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How dangerous is it to take prescription medications after the expiration date?
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
Drugs can become dangerous after their expiration date in that they can produce undesirable side effects. Out of date drugs also lose their effectiveness. You should dispose of expired medication wisely.
Wiki User
∙ 9y ago
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoIt depends on how long after the expiration date they are used. While you will not get sick from it, i.e. it's not toxic, it may have lost its active properties with time. I personally, as well as many others I know personally, take medications past the expiration date with no adverse reactions. Again, really the only thing that can happen is that it may not be as powerful as it was if a long period of time has past since the expiration date.
I'm a pharmacy student and what I can tell you in general is that the expiration date is the date after which 10% of the active ingredient will decompose or otherwise breakdown. Basically the expired drug will have some loss of activity, but in mostcases it shouldn't be too bad.
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