Written by Christina Aungst, PharmD | Reviewed by Amy B. Gragnolati, PharmD, BCPS
Updated on November 1, 2022
Key takeaways:
Manufacturers set medication expiration dates. But they don’t always mean that the medication stops working after that date. Some medications, though, can be harmful if taken after their expiration date.
Storing your medications according to the instructions their labels can help them stay effective until their expiration date.
There are a few different ways to dispose of expired prescriptions and over-the-counter items. The safest way is to bring your medications to a drug take-back location.
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When was the last time you looked through your medicine cabinet? If it’s been more than a few months, you may find expired medications. So what do you do with them? While some medications simply won’t work as well after expiring, others can be dangerous to take.
Generally, it’s a good idea to avoid taking any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medications after their printed expiration date. Always consult with your healthcare provider before taking something that has expired.
Is my medication still safe to take past the expiration date?
It’s unlikely that a medication will harm you if you take it after its expiration date. As we’ll discuss below, only tetracycline (an antibiotic) is known to be harmful after it expires. But even if expired medications aren’t dangerous, you might want to think twice before taking them.
Some people believe that medications are still effective after their expiration date. Well, there may be some truth to this. But the FDA clearly states you shouldn’t use expired medications because of potential risks. For some medications — like blood thinners used for blood clots — less effectiveness can lead to serious health complications.
As a general rule, solid medications, like tablets, are more stable than liquids after their expiration date has passed. But this doesn’t mean you should take any medications after their expiration date.
What are expiration dates, and why are they important to pay attention to?
A medication’s expiration date is defined as “the final day that the manufacturer guarantees the full potency and safety of a medication.
Expiration dates are assigned to:
Prescription medications
OTC medications
Vitamins
Dietary supplements
Herbal products
Since 1979, the FDA has required expiration dates on prescription and OTC medications to improve medication safety. But it’s the medication’s manufacturer that sets an initial expiration date. This can be updated or extended after long-term testing of the medication has been conducted.
What happens when you take expired medicine?
The answer to this question varies depending on what the medication is. Most expired medicines aren’t harmful. But they may not be as effective as they should be.
Some medications, especially those taken to treat critical health issues, should always be taken before the manufacturer’s expiration date. This is because they can break down after expiring. There’s also a risk of liquid medications becoming contaminated with bacteria after they expire.
Examples of these medications include:
Nitroglycerin (Nitrostat)
Insulin
Epinephrine autoinjectors (EpiPen, Auvi-Q)
Liquid antibiotics
Eye drops
Birth control
Below, we’ve detailed what can happen after these medications pass their expiration dates:
| Medication | What it’s used to treat | What happens after the expiration date |
|---|---|---|
| Nitroglycerin | Chest pain and heart attacks | Very sensitive to heat and moisture. Breaks down quickly and could fail to stop a heart attack. |
| Insulin | Diabetes | Breaks down quickly after the expiration date, making it less effective. This can lead to high blood sugar levels. |
| EpiPen | Life-threatening allergic reactions (closing of the throat and airways) | Breaks down quickly after the expiration date and may not work to stop allergic reactions. |
| Oral liquid antibiotics | Bacterial infections | Can become contaminated with bacteria after their expiration date. Could make you sicker and may fail to treat your existing infection. |
| Eye drops | Various eye conditions and illnesses | Can become contaminated with bacteria and lead to eye infections, such as pink eye (conjunctivitis). |
| Birth control | Pregnancy prevention, menstrual cycle regulation, acne, and other hormone-related conditions | Lower effectiveness could lead to unwanted pregnancies, breakthrough bleeding, and spotting. |
What common medications are harmful when expired?
Currently, only the antibiotic tetracycline is known to be harmful when expired. In several reported cases, expired tetracycline has caused Fanconi syndrome. This is a rare form of kidney damage that prevents electrolytes from being absorbed by the body. For this reason, you should never take expired tetracycline.
This problem hasn’t been seen with other medications in the same class as tetracycline, such as doxycycline or minocycline.
What about popular OTC medications like ibuprofen and Tylenol?
Now, you may be asking yourself, “Does ibuprofen expire?” And, the answer is yes. All medications, even those available OTC, have expiration dates. But it’s unlikely that they’ll harm you if you take them past that date. Though, they may not work as well — or at all — to alleviate your symptoms.
Some other common OTC medications that have expiration dates include:
Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
Diclofenac sodium gel (Voltaren gel)
Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
Fluticasone propionate (Flonase)
Lidocaine patches
Loratadine (Claritin)
Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed)
While it’s best only to use non-expired medications, one study conducted by the U.S. military showed that some medications could retain their potency for a year or more after the expiration date has passed. However, the potency of the medications in the study varied from batch to batch. So there’s no way to know if your OTC medications at home are still effective after they’ve expired.
Similar to prescription medications, expired OTC medications could be especially risky if they’re used to treat chronic conditions. For example, aspirin can be used daily to prevent heart problems and may not work properly after its expiration date has passed. Taking expired aspirin could raise your risk of serious health issues, such as a stroke.
It’s best to discard expired products and always consult your healthcare provider to stay up to date with your medications.
How to store medications to ensure their effectiveness and longevity
Storing medications properly will help them remain safe and effective up until their expiration date. Heat and moisture are the biggest factors that affect the breakdown of medications. Most prescription and OTC medications should be stored in a cool, dry location, such as:
A kitchen cabinet that’s not directly over or under a heat source (e.g., the oven)
A dresser drawer
A closet shelf
A storage box or medication lockbox
Avoid storing your medications in a damp bathroom cabinet. They could break down faster than usual in high-moisture, high-temperature environments.
Some medications have different storage requirements. For example, some oral liquid antibiotics and insulins may need to be stored in the refrigerator. Read the labeling on your medication carefully for storage instructions, and contact your pharmacist if you’re unsure.
How to properly dispose of expired medications
If you do have expired medications, there are several ways you can get rid of them. Disposing them at a drug take-back location is the safest option. Many health systems, police departments, and community pharmacies offer unused medication drop boxes. You can simply place any medications you want to dispose of in the bin and be on your way.
The federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) sponsors National Drug Take-Back Days. Twice a year, extra drop-off locations are available to dispose of unwanted medications. These take-back days typically happen at the end of April and October. You can also search for a year-round medication disposal location near you on the DEA website.
For more detailed information, check out our other GoodRx Health article on how to safely dispose of expired or unused medications.
Do written prescriptions expire?
Yes. When your healthcare provider sends in a prescription to your pharmacy, you usually have up to one year to fill the prescription before it expires in most states. The exception to this is prescriptions for controlled substances, which may only be valid for 6 months or less, depending on state laws.
If you try to fill a medication with an expired prescription, your pharmacy will tell you that you need a new prescription from your healthcare provider. They can often request a new prescription on your behalf, especially for routine medications.
Keep in mind that prescription expiration dates are based on state and federal laws and are different from manufacturer expiration dates. Sometimes, the medication inside your prescription bottle may still be good after the prescription is no longer valid to refill. Ask your pharmacist where on your prescription label the manufacturer expiration date is, so you can be sure it’s safe to keep taking it.
The bottom line
Overall, it’s best to only use medications before their expiration date passes. While some products may still be effective for a year or more after their expiration date, there’s no sure way to know if expired medications are still working properly. Always speak with your healthcare provider before taking an expired medication. Storing medications as recommended on the label, and disposing of expired items properly, are essential for ensuring medication safety in your home.
References
Beery, S., et al. (2019). Can medications become harmful after the expiration date?. Nursing.
Cantrell, L., et al. (2012). Stability of active ingredients in long-expired prescription medications. Archives of Internal Medicine.
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