out of date medication

[olivo]

would you take a sleeping tablet that went out of date in sept 2009?

Yes.

Yes I would.

Probably not. Although it's largely irrelevant now, you either did or didn't.

Yes

thank you -it was for DH. he did, he was fine and he slept!!
i just wanted the mumsnet wisdom as i'm a worrier!

I am not sure , but I think i remember my GP telling me that the ingredients in drugs either change or become ineffective after a time.

Probably not as medication degrades rendering it inefficent and as kreecher says they can change.

Had it been months out of date, I'd have said no - but these things often have a shelf-life of 3 - 5 years, so less than a fortnight "past it" isn't going to be much of a big deal.