Expired medication?

Does prescription medication really expire. I know there is a "use by" date on the bottle but can it have adverse reactions? I've heard that the medication just looses its potency over time. The reason I ask is I had pleurisy about a year and a half ago (an infmamation of the lining around the lungs) I have an anti-inflamatory that was prescribed for me and recently I am having the same symptoms. So are there any risks to taking the meds?? The "use by" date on the bottle was about 6 months ago.
Answer:
It would be safest for you to go to MD as you are having symptoms of pleurisy-you may also have a lung infection which often precedes or accompanies pleurisy. Rather than take an expired med-(I know meds are expensive) I would ask MD for another Rx or you can take Ibuprofen that can be bought over the counter. Most meds that are expired more than 6 months have lost their effectiveness or some may become toxic- these are meds that have been in a bottle and exposed to air and light. A drug rep has told me that meds that are sealed (such as in wrapper) stay effective and safe for up to one year past exp. date printed on pack. But exp. dates are there for a reason--don't take the chance of using an ineffective or dangerous medication. Most importantly though you need to treat not only the pain of pleurisy but the cause of it as well. good luck!

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yes. The medicine is no longer suited for the problem it was prescribed for. also, it can be deadly for you

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Throw it out and go back to your doctor for some fresh stuff..

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Most will Expire
Some will be less potent
Others will become toxic

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I once took some prescription medication that was six months passed the due date and it gave me the shivers, like you get when you're getting the flu, but I didn't have a temperature.I'd advise against it.

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Toss the expired meds. Call your MD and let them decide if the symptoms are from the same cause as before. If you want to practice medicine or pharmacology, go to med school or pharm school.

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the reason it has an expiration date is because it isn't affective anymore or it isn't still good for it's purpose anymore. DON"T TAKE IT!!

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throw it away and tell your doctor you need a new prescription.

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From what I heard on the news ont time is that medication does expire, that the chemicals used to make that medication starts to change into different chemicals that have a different purpose. I also heard on the news that the expiration date on the bottle is 6 months early from the real date, so I usually don't flush the meds down my toilet until 6 months later.From your questions, your at the 6 month point. I suggest you don't take your medicine for your safety.

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Don't touch it. Throw them away immediately. Any number of things could have happened to those drugs by now...you're better off getting some fresh pills.

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yes it does. plus it isn't at it top working strength..

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According to my wife, who is a nurse, for the record (and her license), DO NOT TAKE THE MEDICATION IF EXPIRED!! That said, I will now tell you the results of the "NON-PROFESSIONAL" conversation we had. The medication should be OK to use, as long as you are positive it is the same symptoms and same problem. You are correct, that the medication does lose potency, but if you are having the same problems, taking what you have may help until you can get to a physician (KEY POINT: GET RE-EXAMINED) and have the prescription re-newed, according to the results of a physical exam. We decided that most meds are ok up to about a year past expiration, but after that, strength may not be high, may not work as it used to, to point of possibly becoming a placebo. So, it is your call whether you take them or not, but it is likely they will be of some help.

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throw it away!

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