Can i take medicine that is expired

Even with the best of intentions, this conservative standard makes it even more likely that enormous amounts of perfectly good medications will be thrown away in this country each year. We may not save that much. And we don't have the FDA to test and oversee extensions on our medicines' expiration dates.

But there is a fair amount of evidence that medications stored properly, appear intact and are not one of the exceptions mentioned above, are likely to be safe to take. For many common conditions, such as allergies, headaches or back pain, I'm willing to take the risk of applying my own, modest extension to the expiration date. It's too bad that the mystery leftovers in the fridge don't come with an expiration date.

But even if they did, I'd be tempted to stretch those, too. Robert H. He is also the program director of the Rheumatology Fellowship. A drug take-back program, if available, is the preferred way to dispose of expired, unwanted, or unused medicine.

For example, the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, coordinated by the DEA, addresses a vital public safety and public health issue by focusing attention on this important issue and reminding everyone to get rid of unneeded and outdated medicines.

Through this important program many tons of unneeded and out-date drugs have been removed for proper disposal.

However, certain medicines are specifically recommended for flushing down a toilet or sink because they could be especially harmful, even fatal, to a child, pet, or anyone else if taken accidentally. For a list of medicines recommended for disposal by flushing, as well as other information on proper disposal, please see the Disposal of Unused Medicines page. Proper storage is one way to help make sure your medicines will remain safe and effective up to their expiration date.

Why do medicines have expiry dates? Where is the expiry date? You can find the expiry date on the medicine packaging or on the label. This may say: expiry expiry date expires exp exp date use by use before Expiry dates are put on medicines by: the manufacturer that produces the medicine the pharmacist who supplies the medicine What does the 'expiry date' mean?

What does the 'use by date' mean? For example, your pharmacist may label a medicine: "discard 7 days after opening". Following the instructions on the container is the best way to make sure you're using safe, effective nasal spray. Any product that comes in contact with the eyes, such as drops or mists, should be replaced as soon as they expire. Though it's safe to keep eye drops that have not expired, you should take special care to keep the packaging clean.

Though nonprescription sleeping pills will remain safe to use for years after opening, they may become less potent. This can make using them more dangerous. This means that someone taking a less potent, expired sleeping pill may take additional pills to help them fall asleep, inadvertently consuming too large a dose. To be safe, replace sleeping pills soon after they expire. If you have expired antihistamines hanging around in your medicine cabinet, they're probably still effective.

Most drug companies test for effectiveness only for the first two to three years after opening, which is why labels rarely list a later expiration date. Because diazepam, which is sold under names including Valium, is a prescription drug, there are additional guidelines for its expiration date. Because probiotics are alive, they can become far less effective over time or if they're improperly stored.

It's best to them discard based on the manufacturer's guideline, which is usually one year," Langdon said.