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In short, yes, expired medicines can be dangerous. This is because over time, medications can degrade and have a higher risk of being contaminated. A...
In short, yes, expired medicines can be dangerous. This is because over time, medications can degrade and have a higher risk of being contaminated. A key thing we might be worried about is that you are not getting the treatment that you need, this could mean your condition isn’t being controlled properly which increases the risk of more serious complications. In this article we explore some frequently asked questions about using expired medicines such as “is it dangerous to take expired medicine?” and explain why this is not recommended.
Despite how artificial medication might look, actually much like food, medicines can also expire. In fact it is just as important to be aware of the expiration date of medicines in the same way you wouldn’t want to drink spoiled milk and get nasty side effects (e.g upset stomach). However, unlike spoiled milk or rotting vegetables, it is very difficult to tell whether medication has degraded or expired such as by smelling or looking.
To save you from assessing the question of “is it safe to take expired medicine?”, the manufacturer of the medication will put an expiration date on the package to alert you to the point at which it is no longer certain that the medication is of the intended quality, safety, and specified strength. To identify this expiration date, the company would have done a lot of testing to check how quickly the active ingredient in the medication breaks down or at what point the medication can be contaminated. Thus, the expiration date, ‘use by’, or ‘best before’ date is the final day you can use the medication; it is advised that you dispose of the expired meds afterwards.
So how long can you use medicine after expiration date? Unlike with fruits and vegetables where you could eat them after the expiration date if they still look ok and not moldy, it is very difficult to judge medication as they can degrade at different rates. Generally, it is advised that you should not use medication after the expiration date. Additionally, some products may specify in the instructions that ‘once opened’ the duration of safe usage is much shorter than the expiration date. This is often the case in ointments, creams, or liquids. If you have not used up your medication and it has expired today, this does not mean you should rush to use it up all at once. Speak to your local pharmacist about disposing your current expired medication and replacing them with new ones as appropriate.
Often, the risk of taking expired drugs is that it is a lower dose than what it is meant to be due to breakdown of the active ingredient over time. As a result you might experience:
So what happens when you take expired medicine? It can be dangerous to take expired medicine. This is mainly because certain conditions rely on controlling symptoms with medication. If you are taking expired medication, the active ingredient may have degraded over time and may not be at the dose needed to control your symptoms. This can be worrying because the condition might get worse or there might be an increased risk of complications. For example, if you are taking expired antibiotics, your infection might not heal and also might get worse. Additionally, taking expired antibiotics might contribute to bacteria developing resistance to common antibiotics.
Also, some medications can be unsafe to use if they have been open for too long or are out of date. This is because they can become contaminated. A common example of this is eye drops that have been open or exposed for too long, it can be contaminated and cause an eye infection when used. If you are unsure about when your medication expires or if you have run out, please speak to a pharmacist or your healthcare provider for more information.
Let’s discuss what happens if you take expired pills in terms of two broad categories. You are advised not to take expired drugs because they can be both less effective or potentially harmful. It is recommended that you replace any expired medication.
| Less effective | Harmful |
| The active ingredient in medication can break down over time. When this happens, you might be getting a lower dose each time you take your medication. This can mean that you are not getting the right amount or strength of medication needed to control your condition. | Over time medication that is opened and used repeatedly such as creams, ointments, or liquids can risk being contaminated. Using contaminated medication can be uncomfortable or unsafe. Notably due to the risk of getting an infection. |
Regardless of whether it is a general health medicine or a more specific Men’s Health Medicine, it is important to respect the expiration date specified on the package.
While the general advice is not to use any out of date medication, it may be helpful to highlight some examples of medications where using them after the expiry date is particularly risky:
If you use any of these medications and they have expired, please get new replacements. Here at Meds for Less, we stock a large range of general health as well as more specialist medicines to support your health through a convenient and affordable pharmacy service.
If you have expired medication, do not use them and dispose of them safely. To do this, keep the medication in its original packaging and out of reach of children and pets. You can take expired medication to your local pharmacy or some GP surgeries. Keeping the medication in the original packaging can help them identify what medication is being disposed of. They should be able to collect the expired medication or advise on how to dispose of them safely. Do not just throw expired medication into a general rubbish bin or flush them down the toilet. This is bad for the environment or could be a risk to others.
So overall, we have answered the question of “is it ok to take expired medicine?”. Also, it is very important to check and be mindful of the expiry dates on medications. The expiry date is put there by the medication’s manufacturer to alert you to the duration that the medication is of a suitable quality and strength as well as being safe enough to use. They will have done a lot of testing to identify this expiry date so do not ignore it.
Taking expired medication can be dangerous for many reasons, for example they may be more likely to be contaminated or they may not be the appropriate dose for you. If a medication is expired and not at the correct dose, this may mean your condition is not adequately being controlled. If you find that your medication has expired and you are unsure of what to do, please speak to your healthcare provider or a pharmacist for advice.