|
After doing a bit of reading, there seems to be no immediate threat in taking expired medication.
However, the effectiveness of the medication may start to weaken after the expiration date.
"Q: After an expiration date on a medication, how long can you actually keep it? What if it's unopened?
A: Generally, expiration dates have been set by pharmaceutical companies, based on their internal tests of the longest period of time that a medication is known to be effective. Based on other studies, medications probably continue to be effective at least one to two years after the expiration date, and maybe as long as 10 to 15 years later. Medications do retain their effectiveness longer if they are kept unopened or unexposed to humid air.
The only report of harm coming from the ingestion of an expired medication was with tetracycline many years ago. So, it's probably safe to take an expired medication, but not if it's a prescription medication that has expired. " (source below)
|
Linear Mode
