how dangerous is it to take vitamins that are out of date?

Question

I have some calcium tablets that expired in May 2006. I took a couple yesterday and two today because they look and smell fine to me. Can someone please tell me if this is a stupid idea or does it really matter all that much? What would happen anyway?

Answer 1

Well to be honest, you shouldn't take anything that's out of date. The date is there for a purpose. If you suffer or end up in hospital you wouldn't be able to blame anybody but yourself!!

Answer 2

Mostly the expiration dates on medicines are a crock. They either don't really "expire" or just lose some effectiveness. So the worst that can happen is that they will not work. Calcium is a mineral, and it is an element, like iron or salt: elements don't expire. And the rest of the pill is just harmless binders. You'll be fine.

The pharmacists at the place I work, outraged at the huge waste from having to toss "expired" medicines, explained the situation to me - almost all medicines don't really lose all that much if any efficacy or decompose into anything harmful - medicines that are well kept are fine long past any "expiration date." They feel such dates are a marketing ploy.

What? April 30th, the pills are fine, May 1st they're suddenly dangerous? I don't think so.

Answer 3

You shouldn't take anything that's out of date. Make that a general rule.

Would it harm you? not at all. Personally I'd take the calcium tablets without a second thought. Go on, live dangerously!

Answer 4

surely calcium isn't able to expire, it's a mineral. I think they have to put some sort of date on some products as everything sold as edible has to have one on, even things like sugar and salt which can't go off (in the case of salt also a mineral like calcium.)
Maybe other vitamins may 'lose' their goodness after a certain time period, but i think its safe to assume calcium will be fine now or in a thousand years as long as what it's contained in is clean.

Answer 5

Calcium is a mineral, It should not degrade. Vitamins can degrade with heat. Other medications like antibiotics, medications for specific conditions should not be used after their expiration dates. However, antibiotics should be taken until they are gone, so there should not be any expired ones, and maintenance drugs should be purchased as needed.

Answer 6

I dont think it will be dangerous, the expiry date is only a guideline same as food labelling expiry dates, I would finish what you have, if there are only a few, calcium supplements are not exactly capable of doing much harm to you, if taken as directed, of course.

Answer 7

Not a very good idea. Certain minerals/chemicals in vitamins have a life span after that they become either useless or dangerous. My guess is that tablets would have been tested so they won't do you harm (no one that I know off has died) but they might not do you any good. There would be no point in taking them.

Answer 8

Nothing will happen to you, don’t be scared. We can classify drugs in two groups: those that when are outdated can hurt you and those that when are outdated just don’t work (as if you wouldn’t have taken anything). Calcium is in the second group, it probably won’t cause any effect neither good nor bad.

Answer 9

It's not dangerous to take things after the date. They only tell you because after the date they won't work as well and lose there potence.

Answer 10

A couple months is no problem, and when you are talking about vitamins, there is no real serious risks, they just won't do anything. But, never take antibiotics that are out of date- that's a no no.