Is It Unsafe To Take Expired Medicine?

Old medicines gather in the back of your medicine cabinet over time, but is it safe to take the medicine past its expiration date?


Read More:
Drug Expiration Dates — Do They Mean Anything?
“It turns out that the expiration date on a drug does stand for something, but probably not what you think it does.”

Don't Be Tempted to Use Expired Medicines
“Using expired medical products is risky and possibly harmful to your health. In the late 1970s, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began requiring an expiration date on prescription and over-the counter medicines.”
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[EugeneKhutoryansky]

Good thing YouTube videos don't have an expiration date.

[DejectedCat]

Also, don't keep your medicines in your bathroom cabinet. The moisture is horrible for medicine storage.

[YoStu]

of course pharmacy industry wants consumers to believe that medicine goes bad, they are simply maximizing profits

[Artbug]

"It's more of a date of guaranteed potency... It doesn't mean it will be less effective."

Actually, that's exactly what it means...

[brncll]

"Some can last more than 10 years past the date on the package."
"Throw it away if it's past that date."
🤑

[AlltimeConspiracies]

Really really interesting topic. Could the FDA be shortening expiration dates in order to increase sales and profits? Or are we just being mopey cynics! ;)

[AndreyPavlovUS]

I worked in pharmaceutical company. All drugs undergo degradation studies. Basically drugs are stored for years and are tested every set periods of time. Drugs degrade with time and the expiration date is set when percent of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) gets below set point. Also, when API degrades it creates more and more impurities. To make sure none of them are dangerous, impurity studies are done.
Conclusion: medicine can be used as long as you want but use logic. If it is 10 year old then you better through it out. Amount of impurities increases with time but they are harmless.

[CrimsonHelldrake]

I took Tramadol that expired 7 years ago, it's still kickin ass.

[BrianSu]

Good to know this! Just be aware that sometimes old drugs are now banned or discontinued due to reasons that were previously unknown.

[ricktheexplorer]

This video has a CONCLUSION that I DIDN'T EXPECT. Thanks Julia!

[ParadoxdesignsOrg]

I don't get colds often, and I'll rock 3 year old medicine if need be, never had a problem. still works.

[edgyteen]

I have 21 year old vicks and it still works, it expired in 98'

[mikem]

Over time, active ingredients in some medicines can actually become toxic as their molecular structures break down. I'd be wary of taking anything that's more than 1yr past it's expiration date.

[misterandmisdemeanor]

I once took an expired anti anxiety pill (I didn't know it was expired until later when I got home) which made me jittery and distracted. I've never taken the chance since

[NobleHusky]

Depends. I've used slightly expired inhalers and they worked.

[TheSabatuer]

Perfect timing! Got sick with the flu 3 days ago and all i had were expired tylanol, 5 years expired hahah i already new it was fine so i took them, but im glad it turned out to be scientifically founded.

[brettgreen]

I took NyQuil liquid that had been open for 6 months + . Bottle was 2/3 full. It was stored in dry place. It seemed to still work well.

[karenmeng]

I’m taking expired cough medicine since it’s the middle of the night and my through hurts so badly

[CascadianBraeden]

So if some medicine can have a shelf life of up to 45 years, and the FDA only began requiring expiration dates as of 30 years ago... There likely still be perfectly good medication out there that pre-dates expiration labeling. Phew, good to know Grandma is doing just fine.

[BooBaddyBig]

IRC at least one antibiotic becomes actively toxic after it's use by date.