Have you ever accidentally taken expired medication?

[jazzy34]

A couple of years ago, I accidentally took an expired antibiotic. Thankfully, nothing happened, but I was kind of scared in the immediate aftermath. 😆

[Purpleronnie]

Generally lot of capsule / tablet medications last significantly past their expiry , those to pay particular attention to are liquid antibiotics , epipen , insulin , eye drops and other of the shelf liquid medicines.
Typically they loose potency after expiry and or may even cause a bowel or stomach irritation. On rare occasions during to chemical instability they can cause more harm but those who take them would likely be educated on that aspect.


I’ve taken plenty of medication after its expiry and mostly it’s been a choice but never those I’ve listed above.

[AyChingao]

Having had a pharmacist as a drinking buddy some years ago, he gave me the advice that in general the expiry date on a med (much like food) is not a hard and fast line. It's an estimation that they intentionally leave short of any actual changes.
Even when it expires the change is usually a fractional loss of potency. It just becomes a tiny bit less effective, not dangerous. If in doubt ask.
In the case of an expired antibiotic though, it might not entirely clear the infection. That's not a good outcome

[Smashingdoozy]

Nothing I wrong with expired medication, won't kill you just may be less effective. However, why the heck would you even have expired antibiotics? You shouldn't have leftovers from prescriptions, you should be taking the full course otherwise its ineffective.

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

No no, it's common in fact to have prescriptions that don't exactly match the format in which tablets are produced, so you end up with a few pills left afterwards

[jazzy34]

@Smashingdoozy: I’m required to take antibiotics before dental visits. It wasn’t because of a past illness.

[Jen_oic]

@jazzy34
I’m glad you weren’t sick 🤧

[Smashingdoozy]

@jazzy34 thats interesting.
@Maybe_Maybe_not I have never experienced that, drs have always prescribed me the exact amount needed

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

@Smashingdoozy then maybe there's a stronger link between pharmaceutic production and Dr's prescriptions, in your location. Here, not so much lol, people have always antibiotics, painkillers and such delivered in (slightly) excess amount

[jazzy34]

@Jen_oic thanks.

[Jen_oic]

@jazzy34 yes you’re welcome

[jazzy34]

@Smashingdoozy Yeah. I have metal rods in both legs. So, as a safety precaution, I take an antibiotic to prevent infection.

[Jen_oic]

@jazzy34
Feel better soon 🔜

[Calyptomaniac]

Probably. Some things sit in my medicine cabinet forever. Lots of medications expiring just mean the active ingredients have deteriorated and they're less effective but there's usually no actual danger.

[Massageman]

No. I usually do it deliberately.

[RichardCranium6201]

Expiration dates on things doesn't mean after that date they are toxic too our health. They have many different reasons, 1, best used by only determined the freshness. It's best to eat this by this date because after this date the bread might start getting a little harder. Or the taste might start tasting another way. Something like that. Then u got 2, exp date. Now this 1 is tricky, depending on what it's on, like meds, means take on or before to get full benefit of pull ur taking. With pills, the longer their shelve life, the less potent they become. So they're exp date is their strength date I guess u can say. Exp dates are also there to trick people into buying more. Please, do you home work. If u question anything in life. Research. Always ask why.

[NathanDavis]

never accidentally, no... as I always check

however... with things that are "basic" like paracetamol (acetaminophen) or others like that, which are not "strong medication) I have used them when they were past this due date... because I know that they won't be harm... if anything, they will just be a little less effective maybe

but they still worked well, in my case, lol

[lilBigPotato]

Not knowingly but wouldn't be surprised if I accidentally did. Some of the painkillers have been lying around for quite some time.

[queenofcardio]

No, I’m very diligent about checking expiration dates.

Glad, you're okay

[slatyb]

Expired medications aren't dangerous, but they may be ineffective. It varies widely depending on the medication.

[DryGermanGuy]

Most medication (especially dry pills) doesn't really expire. Maybe they lose some potency.

[Lesbologist]

No... I just take them on purpose. If anyone is going to do drugs... it's going to be me.

[RichardCranium6201]

I love this... hahahahaha

[AngryCarl3]

Not consciously. Did you know some medication actually gets more potent when it's out of date? That's what I've been told by people who should know.

[RichardCranium6201]

I haven't heard that. Pills with a longer shelf life lose potency

[RichardCranium6201]

But I'm actually going to look to be sure I don't want to be talking out my ass... lol

[beenherebefore]

I’m pretty sure I’ve taken expired paracetamol and ibuprofen.

[Bklynbadboy12]

What happened did it make you sick

[beenherebefore]

@Bklynbadboy12 not at all. It worked just the way it was supposed to. I do not recommend taking expired drugs tho.

[Bklynbadboy12]

Okay cool so all of this time I was freaking out for nothing. At least now I know if I take some by mistake I'll be okay

[MannMitAntworten]

Nope. Granted I don’t take medication. Not even OTC.

[Jen_oic]

@jazzy34

The same thing happened to me but there wasn’t any bad side effect.

[Agape93]

Yeap, and other people's meds

[thegreenyogi]

No never. I always check the dates on medication.

[Anonymous]

I've taken it knowingly

Who says it stops working just because the date?

Same for food

[PinkSchmetterling]

I don’t think it’s that big a deal tbh

[dudeinohio]

Oh yeah. A few times.

[Alex-Snow]

Never and no desire to really.

[Bklynbadboy12]

Nah I'm very careful with medicine

[In_Trance]

nope

[jimbob70]

Very scary

[Sammy098]

Nope

[Anonymous]

Nope, never.

[Anonymous]

No druggy