Do meds expire?
I'm not a doctor, but I play one on GC ... 
WHAT??!!?! 
Lose potency ... Kinda depends on what they are, how they've been stored and how long out they are. Okie4570's wife is a pharmacist. PM him. He can find out for you ...
WHAT??!!?! Lose potency ... Kinda depends on what they are, how they've been stored and how long out they are. Okie4570's wife is a pharmacist. PM him. He can find out for you ...
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According to my internist- Meds don't "expire", but they do lose they potency over time. The expiration date is just so they can sell you more pills (his words). If they are 3-4 years out of the expiration date, then yeah, they won't be as effective, but going a year or two past that is fine. I am sure there are exceptions, particularly liquid medicines, but most hard pill forms are good to go. Even inhalents are good for a long time past the due date.
This was told to me a few years ago by my doc. He was giving me some samples and he told me this because he gave way more than I could use before the expiration date.
This was told to me a few years ago by my doc. He was giving me some samples and he told me this because he gave way more than I could use before the expiration date.
With rare exception (tetracycline, and even that is disputed), drugs are good long after their expiration date.
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/460159
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/460159
I've always wondered about the concerns about tetracycline ... especially if it is stored in a cool, dark, dry place ... Hope I never have to find out ...
If your question is about expiration dates, then:
My understanding is that the "expiration date" associated with medicines is actually a "guaranteed to be at the label strength by this date".
So, if you have 5.0mg of Hydrocodone in a pill that expires 03/01/2014, you can be assured that the pill will have the strength (if tested) of 5 mg of hydrocodone on that date.
That does not mean that 5 years from now, the same pill will not test out at 5.0mg of active hydrocodone, but the manufacture is only "guaranteeing" the strength to the stated date.
If your question is "at what point do medications completely loose their ability to be used as prescribed?"
I think you have the 64,000 dollar question. I don't think that I have seen any studies that give definitive answers to that question.
Dave
My understanding is that the "expiration date" associated with medicines is actually a "guaranteed to be at the label strength by this date".
So, if you have 5.0mg of Hydrocodone in a pill that expires 03/01/2014, you can be assured that the pill will have the strength (if tested) of 5 mg of hydrocodone on that date.
That does not mean that 5 years from now, the same pill will not test out at 5.0mg of active hydrocodone, but the manufacture is only "guaranteeing" the strength to the stated date.
If your question is "at what point do medications completely loose their ability to be used as prescribed?"
I think you have the 64,000 dollar question. I don't think that I have seen any studies that give definitive answers to that question.
Dave
There ya go.
