Expired Medicines: Should You Take Them?

Does medicine expire?

Medications do expire, but they may not do so according to the expiration date on the bottle or container. A medication’s expiration date is determined by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), based on stability information provided by the manufacturer. Pharmaceutical products are usually given an expiration date of between 12 and 60 months from the date they are manufactured. 

There is also a margin of safety factored in, so medication may be stable for longer. The expiration date is based on the assumption that the medication is stored in the manufacturer’s sealed bottle and under the correct conditions. 

When pharmacies dispense medication, they may put an expiration date of 1 year from the day it is dispensed, or if the lot expires sooner, they may put that discard date on the packaging. 

How long can you use medicine after the expiration date?

Whether you can use medication after the expiration date depends on the medicine in question and how it is stored. Solid dosage forms such as tablets tend to be more stable than liquids or injectable products and may have a longer shelf life. Light, moisture, and heat can degrade medications, so their shelf life is determined by how they are stored.

The Shelf-Life Extension Program study conducted by the FDA studied the potency of a variety of expired medications. The study found that many medications were stable after the expiration date, and some were even stable for years after the date listed on the bottle. It is important to note that in this study, the medications were stored in a controlled environment in the original unopened bottle and not under real-world conditions. In times of medication shortage, the FDA has allowed for expiration dates to be extended to ensure access to medication for people who need it, as long as some stability information is present. 

Where should you store medicine?

The best place to store a medication is up and out of reach of children in a cool, dry place. The container should be closed tightly and, if the container is transparent, out of the light. One common mistake people make is to store medications in a medicine cabinet in the bathroom. This is actually one of the worst places you can store medication, because the moisture and heat from the shower can accelerate degradation. Kitchens are also not a good place to store medications for the same reason. 

What happens when you take expired medicine?

It is unlikey that you would be poisoned or have adverse effects from taking an expired medication. The biggest risk of taking expired medicine is that it may have lost its potency, and the medical problem you are taking it for will therefore not be properly treated. For example, if your blood pressure medication has lost its potency, your blood pressure may not be adequately controlled, causing harm. 

Many years ago, expired tetracycline was associated with toxicity, but those products have since been taken off the market. It is important to remember that children who accidentally get into expired medication can still be poisoned. 

How should you dispose of expired or unused medicine?

It is a good idea to periodically clean out your medicine cabinet and discard expired medications. Having expired medications in the house can be a source of poisoing for young children, or of diversion or abuse in adolescents or adults. 

Most medications can be disposed of in the trash. It is recommended that you mix them with cat litter or coffee grounds, or something not palatable. Put the mixture in a sealed bag and throw it in the trash. Be sure to remove any medication labels with personal information and destroy them. 

For medications that are classified as controlled substances, there are pharmacy take-back programs where you can drop medication off to be destroyed and prevent diversion. If this is not possible, the FDA recommends that certain dangerous medications, such as opioid pain medications, be flushed down the toilet. Other than these few exceptions, avoid flushing medications down the toilet because of the environmental impact of drugs in waste water. Learn more about the FDA guidelines. 

Some pharmacies take old medicines back. Ask your pharmacist. See resources from Dispose My Meds and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration for more information.

What should you do if you take expired medicine?

If you think someone has taken an expired medicine, or you have questions about medication storage or disposal, help from experts is available through the webPOISONCONTROL online tool or by phone at 1-800-222-1222. Poison Control’s expert guidance is always free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day.

Shannon Lee, RPh, BSPharm
Certified Specialist in Poison Information

Rose Ann Gould Soloway, RN, BSN, MSEd, DABAT emerita
Clinical Toxicologist

Maryann Amirshahi, PharmD, MD, MPH, PhD
Medical Toxicologist 

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