Out of date medicine/paracetamol

[SummersBreeze]

I was looking for paracetamol at home this morning and I found a box. It's a box of suppositories paracetamol 500mg. I like the suppositories because I think they work quicker at reducing pain/temperature.

I checked the date and it was December 2021 expiry date.

Would these still be ok to use?

I’m currently taking expensive vitamins I found in the cupboard 3 months out of date.

I saw a pharmacist on here one time saying taking out of date liquid medicine wasn’t advisable (something about being unstable I think) but that tablet form would be fine, just a possibility of reduced efficacy. I’d figure it would be the same with a suppository but plenty of people wouldn’t use it.

Bumping in case anyone else has comments. I really really struggle with organisation and was wondering what to do about our medicine cabinet, which has loads of out of date stuff in it. I also loathe waste (and chucking money down the drain). I seem to remember someone saying that you can keep taking meds past their expiry date but the efficacy is likely to be a bit reduced. If so - I'll keep them. But presumably there's some sort of limit - so 1 year out of date paracetamol is ok but 10 yrs not, for instance. Does anyone know? Finally - heard you aren't supposed to chuck in the bin - but dispose via a chemist. Is that right?

I try to take old prescription meds to the pharmacy for destruction.

Ive taken some meds that are a few months out of date thinking it’s likely an efficacy issue.

I use stuff no matter what the date. Have used stuff going back to 2015.

They are safe to use, but may be less effective.

They'll be fine, until you get the chance to get new ones.

And it still works?

Ive used thyroxine that’s a few months gone. But that’s it.