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Taking expired medication is generally not recommended. While a medication might not become immediately dangerous after its expiration date, its effectiveness can decrease over time. This means it may not treat your condition as effectively as intended, potentially leading to health complications.
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Potential Risks of Using Expired Medication
- Reduced Potency: The active ingredients in medications can degrade, making the drug less effective.
- Bacterial Growth: Some expired medications, particularly liquids, are at risk of bacterial growth, which can cause infections.
- Harmful Chemical Changes: While rare, some medications can undergo chemical changes that could be harmful.
- Physical Decay: Liquid antibiotics, aspirin, nitroglycerin, and insulin can show signs of physical decay.
Exceptions and Emergency Situations
In emergency situations, like an allergic reaction requiring an epinephrine pen or an asthma attack needing a rescue inhaler, using an expired medication might be better than using nothing at all. However, the medication should be replaced with a current one as soon as possible.
Medications to Avoid After Expiration
Certain medications are more susceptible to degradation and should be avoided after their expiration date. These include:
- Liquid antibiotics
- Insulin
- Nitroglycerin
- Eye drops
Degraded capsules can cause irritation to the esophagus and stomach, leading to pain, ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding.
Proper Disposal of Expired Medications
To avoid accidental ingestion or environmental contamination, dispose of expired medications properly. Many pharmacies offer drug take-back programs. You can also mix the medication with undesirable substances and dispose of it in a sealed container.
FDA Warning
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns against taking any expired medicine because it may not work as intended or may even be harmful to your health.
