{"id":3068,"date":"2019-03-06T18:35:41","date_gmt":"2019-03-06T23:35:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.greatflorida.com\/blog\/?p=3068"},"modified":"2026-05-12T20:52:42","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T00:52:42","slug":"what-you-should-know-about-expired-medication","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greatflorida.com\/blog\/2019\/what-you-should-know-about-expired-medication\/","title":{"rendered":"What You Should Know About Expired Medication"},"content":{"rendered":"

You are in pain. You reach for some pain-reliever only to notice it\u2019s expired. Do you still take it?<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is a good idea to conduct an annual inventory of your medication,\u201d says Dustyn Shroff<\/a>, Vice President of GreatFlorida Insurance<\/a>, Florida\u2019s largest independent health insurance<\/a> agency.<\/p>\n

Since 1979, the U.S. Drug and Food Administration<\/a> (FDA) has required an expiration date on all over-the-counter medication.<\/p>\n

According to the FDA, \u201cDrug expiration dates reflect the time period during which the product is known to remain stable, which means it retains its strength, quality, and purity when it is stored according to its labeled storage conditions.\u201d<\/p>\n

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However, the FDA<\/a> conducted a study finding 90% of more than 100 drugs, prescription and OTC were good to use even 15 years after the expiration date. While taking medication past the expiration date, cannot guarantee full potency, most of the effectiveness is retained.<\/p>\n

Proper storage can help medication can retain its strength. Placing drugs in a cool, dry environment such as the refrigerator, will extend its shelf life. If left in a hot environment, such as your car, some drugs degrade rapidly.<\/p>\n

Consensus among doctors is, expiration dates are very conservative to make sure you get your money\u2019s worth. But, don\u2019t be in a hurry to ditch your expired medication, save yourself some money. Tablet medication such as ibuprofen (Advil) can remain effective for years after being opened.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile most meds are fine to use after their expiration date, that doesn\u2019t mean they all are,\u201d says Dustyn Shroff<\/a>, Vice President of GreatFlorida Insurance<\/a>, Florida\u2019s leading independent health insurance<\/a> agency.<\/p>\n

The safety of expired meds should be considered. The FDA says of expired medication, \u201cIt also may yield toxic compounds, causing consumers to experience unintended side effects.\u201d<\/p>\n

Liquid medications deteriorate faster. According to Harvard Medical School<\/a> you should avoid using the following medications after their expiration date.<\/p>\n