Taken out of date medicine

[Pieceofpurplesky]

Put in aibu for traffic but I just took two codeine tablets for bad back pain. Then realised that they were out of date (6 months). Is anything likely to happen?!!

No.

Think it can just become less effective after use by date. (Maybe ring 111 to get advice?)

Your bad back might feel better! I asked my sil who is a pharmacist about the reams of meds left over from my accident 5 years ago. She said it’s fine to take. (Diazepam, Tramadol, codeine)

I think the worst that will happen is they don’t work! I’m sure it’s not harmful but don’t take anything else on top until the prescribed time

Nothing. They will still work they just wont be as strong.

What on earth do you think might happen? When did common sense die?
Go on - ring 111. Or log it with 101. I dare you.

Overwhelmingly unlikely to do anything bar reduce pain. Expiration dates are usually to ensure effectiveness, not because anything untoward might happen.

You'll be fine. The medicine won't have lost its effectiveness after only six months & it won't do you any harm either.

Nothing bad will happen...you might even feel better

I take out of date medicine all of the time and i have ocd so am a stickler for whats dangerous and whats not.

You will be fine. I'm taking meds 3 months out of date and I think I'm still alive

I'm not a 'live by the date ' person.
Sat and ate 2 pieces of Malt loaf today that was still squidgy and completely yum and it so say went out of date in May !

I think that they're designed to work normally until one year after the expiry date.

The US Defense department has conducted shelf life extension program studies across a range of common medicines including codeine testing shelf life extension to Cora 5 years beyond dates. I believe codeine was found to be fine, with some samples left untested so not as much evidence over it as other items.

www.ghdonline.org/uploads/drugs-Stability_Profiles-vencimiento.pdf

I’m a bit knackered so worth giving that a read. Anyway I don’t think you’ll have a problem 6 months late. Tablets are the stablest form of drug because the crystal forms are usually very stable so degradation is much slower than eg liquids.

Jesus don’t ring 111 for that! Google or just use common sense

They might be infinitesimally less effective than they would have been if taken before the expiry date. That's it.

depends what it is.
tablets are usually very stable. the active ingredient might be weaker, but don't usually go bad.
liquids are very different.
if in doubt ask a pharmacist or call the phone number in the package leaflet.

so, op you will be fine.

Nothing will happen you. They might have lost their effectiveness a bit that's all.

Nothing will happen. They might be slightly less effective if out of date, that's all.

Lol, cross posted with HildaZelda. Started writing my post then distracted. Amazed I said almost the same thing word for word!!

Thanks. Mrs Oliphant and inspector I am
Asking in here as a) I googled and scared
Myself! and b) I just wanted to check and thought there may be an expert on here!

My dad is a pharmacist, literally 90% of my parents and my medicine cabinet is at least a year out of date, I personally draw the line at 5 years, but my dad has been known to use medication even further out of date with no unpleasant side effects. So relax I’m sure you will be fine.

As others have said, the absolute worst that will happen is that they might be a wee bit less effective, but you won't die.

So, yeah, YBU.

It’s not really the effectiveness you should be concerned about, it’s any degradation products. As a PP said, tablets are generally a more stable form, but liquids can degrade and form impurities which could be toxic. There are acceptable limits for impurities in drugs for a reason. I think it dangerous to advise people that you can use all drugs for 5 years over the shelf life.

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/25188345/

I take things that are years out of date. You'll be fine.