Expiration dates for medicine?

Question

What happens to a medication after it's expiration date? Is it safe to take them or is it just simply that the medicine will no longer have a therapeutic effect?

Answer 1

The expiration dates for prescription medications is when 5% of the drug has broken down or has become unavailable, so 95% of the drug is still usable. This is a guideline set by the FDA.

In most cases this doesn't cause a problem, but in some drugs, the broken down drug can be toxic or have negative effects. Most likely the package insert would mention this, so read through it in detail if you plan on taking expired medications

Answer 2

I have heard that many meds are good after their expiration. If they sit around too long, they will have no therapeutic effect but shouldn't hurt you. I have actually heard from a pharmacist that drugs can be good for 2 yrs after their expiration but it's a way to make money for the pharmaceutical companies. Not sure if this is true..but it sounds like it could be.

Answer 3

Some medications are fine to take after the expiration date. These medicines are most potent before the expiration though.

Answer 4

I've heard that they are good too the majorities of them anyways. I've had doctor's offices even give me medications that were expired saying that they were still good and this will help me not to waste my money. It's just a way for them to make money by making expirations dates from what I understand. But even still to be on the safe side depending on the medicines you're asking about.....I'd talk to your doctor.