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Settele a debate with DH re: expired medicine

akimboakimbo
in Parenting

Let's say you have cough medicine or Tylenol that's expired - do you think it's still safe to take? Do you think it's still effective?

I'll let you know where I stand after a few responses. I'm hoping you side with me Wink but am willing to cheerfully do the "DH is right - I'm wrong dance" if you don't.

TIA

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Re: Settele a debate with DH re: expired medicine

  • mommyof4boysmommyof4boys member
    Not as potent.  I'd throw it out.
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  • shopgirl78shopgirl78 member
    Not as potent. ?However, depending on the need, I'd probably use it....104 degree fever no but a mild fever, yep until I could get to the store and get more!

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  • ZenyaZenya member
    depends on how expired.  I wouldnt' worry about a couple of months
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  • AZ_EricaAZ_Erica member
    I'd say it's safe but not as effective.  I would throw it away though.
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  • hopefulmomhopefulmom member
    I've been told by pharmaceutical reps that the "beyond exiration" time is about 6 months regarding most medications.  I personally have stuff that is like 5 years old and still use it (Peptobismal, Tums) and have not noticed a problem (they still work as well)).  I'm sure it depends on the medication though.
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  • LeoChicLeoChic

    I think it's safe but I doubt it's very effective.  The chemicals in the medicine will start to break down once they are so old (I would think).  Isn't BubblyToes the resident pharmacist?  We need her input on this one.

     It's funny you posted this because I just cleaned out our medicine cabinet yesterday and threw away so much expired medicine it was ridiculous.

     Editing to add:  I took expired NyQuil last week and didn't realize until my cleaning spree yesterday that it was expired.  It didn't work for me when I took it and I was just thinking that I was soooo sick.  Turns out, no....I just had expired medicine.

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  • Flem052204Flem052204

    Yes and no.  How's that for an answer?

    In most cases, unless it is a biological that needs refrigeration, I don't think it is harmful if taken after the expiration.  But I think it does begin to lose it's strength, so it may not be as effective.  The pharmaceutical companies give themselves plenty of leeway when it comes to expirations--so if something expired this month, chances are it will be fine for several more months.  As an adult, if my cold medicine were expired by a few months and I was desperate for relief, I would take it.  If it were an old leftover antibiotic, I wouldn't risk it.  Also, DH has an autoimmune disease.  I would never have him take any of his meds after they had expired.

    And as far as my baby/toddler are concerned, I would never give them expired medicine, even if it's just Tylenol.  With that, you just can never tell if the meds are still effective since the kids really can't tell you if it's working or not.

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  • littlemissylittlemissy
    I asked my doctor once about expired medicine, and she said it was ok to take for up to a year past the expiration date.
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  • Temp159135562506975Temp159135562506975 member

    It depends on the type of drug- and how long it's been expired for.

    I'm a drug rep- and can assure you that most meds do not magically go bad the day after they expire.  Most have many months if not a year or more that they will still be good.... BUT- this does not go for some types of drugs - esp antibiotics, which can actually go bad and make you sick.

    the USA has very strict expiration rules- much more so than other countries... which is why often companies will send their expired drugs to other countries.

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  • akimboakimbo

    Ok - looks like I'm dancing for DH (It's a silly thing we do when the other is 'right' about something.)

    The meds were for me, and he about lost his mind when I was gong to take some expired cough medicine....seriously expired.

    Thanks for your opinions.

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