Out of date Codeine

[DollyDaydream70]

Hi all

I've woken up with a clanging headache this morning, something that happens extremely rarely for me (maybe once or twice per year). I've tried to wait it out and hope it goes away but it's not getting any better. I've searched my flat and the only painkillers I can find are a strip of 30mg Codeine pills that belonged to my ex partner. The strip doesn't have an expiry date on them, is it ok to take them if they're out of date? Thanks in advance for your help.

Earlier this year I was taking cocodamol that was 12 months out of date - they worked and my GP said they wouldn’t have done me any harm, but prescribed me some more!

Have you had codeine before? 30mg is quite strong.

That said, them being out of date won't mean much apart from them being less effective. I guess it depends on potentially how out of date they are.

Totally fine..

University of California did a study

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/medicalxpress.com/news/2012-10-drugs-fine-years-expire.amp

Thank you everyone. I've taken one 30mg pill, as the pain was overcoming my fear of taking them! Hopefully I'll feel better soon :-)

Also ensure you aren't dehydrated, because that too can cause headaches. Codeine can make you drowsy, so the usual rules apply' don't operate machinery etc if affected'. Hopefully it clears soon.

Mine expired in 2017 and I took 2 last week. I'm alive so guessing they're fine. When I got a chest infection once I took an inhaler that was 16 years out of date. Found it in an old bag that I used to use for school.