How bad is it to take expired Tylenol?

userdeleted

I've been sick since last night (probably with the plague, based on my symptoms). I took some tylenol earlier today and just took some tylenol pm. It hasn't seemed to help my raging head ache at all. I'm hoping it helps me sleep at least tonight.

Well I just looked and both bottles are expired. The regular tylenol expired over the summer and the PM expired in 2010. Oops. How bad is that? I don't need to call a doctor do I?

MrsAJL

It's not going to hurt you. I think the major concern with expired medicine is that they may not be very effective.

brideonjuly8

MrsAJL:

It's not going to hurt you. I think the major concern with expired medicine is that they may not be very effective.

this.  I wouldn't worry, but I would definitely discard them and get new ones ASAP!  Pregnant with a raging headache is AWFUL!

thethomps

My O-Chem husband says it is not bad and with solid pills, it takes quite a while for them to lose their effectiveness.  (Assuming you took solid pills and not gel caps or something like that.)  Hope you're feeling better soon!

userdeleted

Thanks everyone! I'm glad that I didn't accidentally poison myself, lol. DH found one bottle of non-expired tylenol (why do we have so much tylenol in this house?) and I took that this morning. It seems to be helping a lot more, but maybe I'm just on the mend. Crossing my fingers!