Expired antibiotics reddit. It increases the possibility, but it's unlikely.

 

Expired antibiotics reddit. But a study done by the US military showed most tablet forms last a minimum of 5 years past expiration with some effective up to 15 years past. Doesn’t make much sense to use a MMDYY format. My ex took a dose of expired over-the-counter medicine to relieve his cold systems, and he started acting very loopy, to the point that his boss asked if he was on drugs or drunk. Why do you have a two year old antibiotic? Are you wanting to take it for the same infection you had 2 years ago? If you got it for an infection 2 years ago, then I can assume you didn’t finish it, which means you don’t have a full course of the antibiotic. This is a huge problem with patients. Expired azithromycin may not be potent or stable enough to treat infections. What they found from the study is 90% of more than 100 drugs, both prescription and over-the-counter, were perfectly good to use even 15 years after the expiration date. If looking for information about a specific antibiotic and its side effects please refer to /r/Antibiotics Wiki. " NCBI source Long story short, I felt a UTI coming on. Medications may retain their potency after their expiration date depending upon how they are stored. Nov 1, 2022 · Overall, it’s best to only use medications before their expiration date passes. Most antibiotics have a shelf life of about 2 years. I have my latest bout coming on like a bag of bricks and I can't reach my doctor on the weekend. I verified this with my pharmacy when they didn’t fill my RX on time, and I had a different dosage at home, from when I had to use a lower dosage last year. Skip to main content. Once seen it can potentially ruin their treatment plan and can predispose you to antibiotic resistance. I found a prescription of macrobid from 3 years ago and I took them for one day (2 pills) / out of nowhere a rash burning, hives everywhere Antibiotics tend to be good for a lot longer than the expiration date listed on the bottle. I used to be manager of a large health system pharmacy. Not taking your antibiotics for the full course is unlikely to create an antibiotic resistant strain of bacteria. Expired medications that contain preservatives, such as ophthalmic (eye) drops, may be unsafe past their expiration date. ” Sep 7, 2018 · Amoxicillin is an antibiotic, and all antibiotics expire. "Most drugs degrade very slowly," he says. What’s the worst thing that can happen to me?? Nov 2, 2018 · In some cases, leftover medications are expired, which could mean they won't work as well. Depends on how they were stored, and how expired, and the ingredients. They will generally degrade and decline in availability of the active drug after that point. When the H1N1 scare was sweeping the nation, our state government sent 3 large palettes of Tamiflu and Ralenza. Still, Joel Davis, a former FDA expiration-date compliance chief, says that with a handful of exceptions -- notably nitroglycerin, insulin and some liquid antibiotics -- most drugs are probably as durable as those the agency has tested for the military. I forget the exact numbers, but you are required to maintain all production and testing records for N years after the expiration date on medical drugs and devices. Need antibiotics, expired health card Question I have a throat infection, assuming strep that has spread to my ear and neck, I considered going to the ER because of the severity but decided to wait it out until tomorrow. Outdated preservatives may allow bacterial growth in the solution. I would assume the same sort of requirements are in place for drugs. Aug 23, 2023 · However, in some situations, taking expired medications can have serious health consequences. I dont really have the ability to go to the doctor right now. Personally, considering that in a study the DoD did (which is only available in general, unclassified reports,) 90% of tested meds were 90% potent 10-15 years after their expiration date. For example, taking sub-potent antibiotics might not fully treat an infection, leading to more serious illness and possible antibiotic resistance. I can’t afford an ER visit. com. Questions: 1) is it safe to take? and 2) if safe, are they still effective? See full list on prescriptionhope. Expired Tylenol for a high fever that fails to control the fever, now you’re asking questions about if something more serious is going on, or when you should take a second dose… a lot more of a problem. The expiration date is just the point at which the manufacturer tested the drugs for efficiency. 25 grams of azithromycin, which were 2 months expired. Source: I used to work in quality control for a major drug manufacturer. Hodes shares. This subreddit was created due to a flood of patient questions in various other eye-related subreddits. Considering they tested the 'most common' meds, I lump antibiotics underneath that. Washington state male with a long history of sinus infections. Obviously we wouldn't use expired parts, but I have a feeling they would last for quite a while past three years, we just don't have the data to prove it. I can't go to a doctor because I have no insurance, which is why I took the pills (I obtained them somehow), and I didn't want people telling me not to do it because I don't really have much to lose. I took 2. r/AskDocs A chip A chip Otherwise other antibiotics (that I'm aware of, other ones may be harmful too if expired) when expired lose potency and can just kill of the nonresistant bacteria and promote resistance. My dr and pharmacy said the EXPIRATION DATE was the important date. Important to keep basic OTC on hand but we no longer buy the big bottles of most kinds even though Costco big bottles might cost the same as local drug store little bottles. true. Ya I think this is one of the few medications that actually does become toxic after it’s expiration date. Some are three. Super interesting article thanks! Epipens stored in EMS vehicles between 1-11 years past expiration only contained up to 31% of original potency. Nitrofurantoin Side Effects. I’m not 100% sure that’s an expiration date. . Even if you stockpile antibiotics they will expire eventually. I've taken expired Antibiotics and Antifungals in the past and been told by medical professionals that it was perfectly fine. Some antibiotics and medicine can be used up to a year after expiration, but it really depends on the pill. The antibiotic I have already is an unopened blister pack of x6 Azithromycin tablets (250mg each). The stuff that will last the longest (read, relatively indefinitely) is packaged as pills in their original, unopened containers. And it allows them to dispose of records sooner. (she's okay now). Aug 22, 2022 · Antibiotics past their expiration date can significantly risk the patient’s health and safety. "Expiration date" on a bottle indicates under normal storage the potency of a drug has fallen to 90% of the stated concentration on the label. About twice a year we would get a list from the state with lot numbers, their current expiration date, and their "new" expiration date. Links to information and side effects of Fluconazole have been added to the r/Antibiotics wiki. These dates are used as “selling dates”. When you are prescribed antibiotics, you need to take all of them, even if you feel better. I have a UTI (pretty sure) and can’t get to a doctor for another 2 days and the pain is getting pretty bad. Pharmacy technician student here. If they put a pill on a shelf for 1 year, go back and test it and it still has full potency, it gets a year expiration date, leave it for 2 and it still maintains potency it gets a 2 year expiration date. My stomach is starting to feel funny and I’m not sure if I made a huge mistake. While epipens tested with normal storage up to 90 months past expiration date decreased proportionally Ruptured abscess, possibly expired antibiotics, took wrong medication as well, feel awful Desperate need of advice. The largest reason why you are to finish your full course is to prevent the dormant bacteria from replicating and making you sick all over again. Looks more like it’s an extended part of the lot number. Reply reply Would like to avoid the expense of new antibiotics if the old ones I have will work as i'm pretty broke right now and have no insurance. CVS Minute clinic is booked and my urgent care is super backed up. Pharmacist here. Tetracycline antibiotics, past their expiration date, begin to degrade into something called anhydro-4-epitetracycline, which causes kidney damage. Although expired medication may still work in some instances, patients are still advised not to take it. So, this person took a broad sample of different meds from antibiotics to stimulants to sedative/hypnotics that were anywhere from just expired to 50 or 60 years past expiration to a lab in Many medications are still in excellent working condition long after their official expiration date, and you can easily tell which ones are most likely to "go bad" by the preparation. Mostly all liquid forms must be disposed of. “Expired” is on the pamphlet that comes with the med when you pick it up & is from the manufacturer. I have some Amoxicillin that was filled in 2015 and I'm desperate to get started on antibiotics, will it be okay to take this to get me started? NAD - They lose some efficacy, but not enough to be trash. I used expired medications (up to about a year expired) while I was doing a surgical mission in kenya. They were prescribed in January 2019 and the pack says they expired in December 2019. On a slightly different note antibiotics should be used only for whatever they were prescribed for and to whom. The only danger is the loss to Big Pharma of profits when you don't needlessly replace your medications. Trimethoprim has a shelf life of at least 3 years iirc, if it's stored properly. Pharmacies can not take back medications from patients. What’s the expected shelf life of amoxicillin? A drug’s shelf life is the time span it retains potency. Many local police departments have medication take back containers. All other antibiotics that I can think of, simply become less effective. Medically reviewed by Drugs. We were able to do hysterectomies and myomectomies safely for many women who needed them. The military did a study and found that expired drugs/medications can be safe and maintain potency for as long as fifteen years after the expiration date. Once the They were directed to this drugs. Also, my mother poisoned herself with expired antibiotics a few years ago. Information about specific antibiotics including side effects and answers to commonly asked questions can be found in the /r/Antibiotics Wiki and the sidebar. com page: Drug Expiration Dates - Are Expired Drugs Still Safe to Take?. I have Amoxicillin from September 9 2020 that expired 3 months ago. While expired medications are generally not toxic, if the drug loses its potency, the medical problem you are taking it for may not be adequately treated, causing harm. "With a large and expensive stockpile of drugs, the military faced tossing out and replacing its drugs every few years. Always speak with your healthcare provider before taking an expired medication. I had expired Cephalexin from 2017 (6 years expired) and I just took one pill. It's not to "trick" consumers. Certain antibiotics also become toxic after expiration. Pharmacies are also required to use expiration dates (typically 1-2 years after they bottle the medication). Hello! I am a 26F, I have a UTI (Had so many in the past, when you know you know). However, given that medical advice over the internet cannot be given without an exam, and that legal liability is tremendously high for telling someone "eh, it's probably nothing, don't worry," please understand that it is likely that many of your less pressing questions may not receive Nov 18, 2022 · Canadians should avoid stockpiling and consuming expired medication, some experts say, as drug shortages continue to trouble the country. I went through my preps and what little antibiotics I had were labeled as “expired” … they were probably fine, if diminished potency, but that started a flurry of web research. 53 year-old 6'0" 170 lbs. TL;DR: See this image and this image. My doctor was closed and due to COVID in our area no new doctor would take me. So maybe the question should be “for how long these antibiotics are expected to still have effects?” Amoxicillin (tablets) – 5 years after the expiration date; Clarithromycin and Doxycycline (tablets) – 5 years after the expiration date; Ciprofloxacin (tablets) – 10 years after the expiration date; Drugs get there expiration dates from the testing process done by the manufacturer. For example, manufacturers can’t sell these medications after that expiration date. 14 years pharmacy experience here. Tetracycline is an antibiotic that becomes poisonous when it is expired. Hi. It increases the possibility, but it's unlikely. Hey everyone I was curious for expert answers on this question. I did notice a delay in the onset of most of the medications, especially the bupivacaine. Even with a concierge doctor and a local pharmacy, we couldn’t get her antibiotics until the next morning (and that was a long night). We don't want there to be any mistake of re-dispensing them. Each drug has a different expiration date based on the stability of the drug (light, heat, moisture) due to its unique chemical properties and which excipient is used. Expired antibiotics… well, that may contribute to antibiotic resistance. Open menu Open navigation Go to Reddit Home. It was an extremely rewarding experience. Expired antibiotics for UTI I have a UTI that is starting to really hurt and have a bottle of 5 year old, unopened 500mg of doxycycline capsules on hand. A shorter expiration date reduces the manufacturer's potential liability. “Liquids easily become contaminated,” Dr. Some are only six months. I think all other medications just lose their potency and become less effective as time goes on. I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Manufacturers are required to put an expiration date on all medications. You could help create drug-resistant bacteria. Its as simple as that. As such, taking expired azithromycin may cause antibiotic resistance. So, the sooner stuff expires Layman here: Yes, if stored in ideal conditions most medications are still good long after their expiry date. Amoxicillin is available as capsules, tablets and a suspension. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns. It's done. While some products may still be effective for a year or more after their expiration date, there’s no sure way to know if expired medications are still working properly. Back in 1985, some brainiac within the military decided he was tired of seeing millions of taxpayer's dollars go to waste by destroying "expired" meds. Never, ever save antibiotics and use at a later date. Last updated on Sep 12, 2020 Applies to nitrofurantoin: oral capsule, oral suspension 33 votes, 23 comments. Many drugs can be taken after they expire, but antibiotics become toxic when they go bad. I have a post-coital antibiotic (Macrobid) and it is 1 year past expiration. If you can’t finish the entire course of 7-10 days, then you shouldn’t start it. Its 50mg, can I just take 2 capsules twice a day for 5 days even though its expired? My main concern is that its expired really. Expired medication should be disposed of safely. The Bottom Line. This means that expired Maracyn 2 is essentially poisonous. What happens to most prescription medications when they “expire”? Do they just lose potency? I heard from someone in the field that 99% of medications are okay to take after expiration date but I’m sure the answer depends on the medication obviously. However, since pharmaceutical companies can't account for how dry, cool or dark your medicine cabinet is, out of an abundance of caution and desire to cover their asses, they assign an expiration date so you don't try to take a Tylenol that's been sitting in grandma's medicine cabinet Aug 14, 2024 · Amoxicillin is an antibiotic used to kill susceptible micro-organisms responsible for bacterial infections. But they were effective. (I think it was a safety issue for the military when stocking drugs and using them in the field) Feb 22, 2024 · Eye drops, ear drops and some antibiotics are some examples of liquid medicines that aren’t safe to use past their expiration date. com Oct 24, 2018 · How long to keep using expired prescription drugs, what to do with the ones you won't use and whether to take all your prescribed antibiotics are some of the most common questions a pharmacist can answer, says a U of A expert. Ask your pharmacist what to do with old or expired medications, not the internet. Reading through the information there may help allay your concerns. A handful of medication is an absolute no once expired such as nitroglycerin, insulin, and liquid antibiotics. It was a relief to get expired OTC and prescription drugs out. The active ingredient in Maracyn 2 is minocycline, which is a tetracycline antibiotic. Some antibiotics even become toxic after expiration. Solutions may become contaminated due to the antimicrobial preservatives breaking down. While this is true, you should never have untaken antibiotics. “The advice is always if you have expired medications Solutions, antibiotics, asthma and allergy medications are examples of medicines that should not be used past their expiration date. Misusing antibiotics this way is a major cause of drug resistant bacteria. But all that is moot if they’re unavailable. There are some that degrade more rapidly when exposed to air and those are generally packed in foil. An expiration date defines when a drug reaches 90% of its labeled potency and with antibiotics like amoxicillin, the normal dosing range is so broad that it's not an issue. This is a problem because you can then get MRSA or other similar infections. Certain expired medications are at risk of bacterial growth and sub-potent antibiotics can fail to treat infections, leading to more serious illnesses and antibiotic resistance. This can be equivalent to taking the wrong dose of antibiotics. most animal shelters will take donations of expired medicine especially antibiotics. smt qfe iawv sylkdy qsxqv emjf hmezu blqtt bhwp ifpg