Medications can lose potency or won’t be as effective for treating a condition after expiration. Some medications become toxic after expiration. Because of this, critical medications, such as insulin, should not be used after their expiration date.
According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA),
When a manufacturer applies for FDA approval of a drug, regulations require them to provide stability testing with a recommended expiration date and storage conditions. The expiration date is important in deciding whether the product is safe to use and will work as it is supposed to.
Learn more about which medications you should not take after the expiration date and what may happen if you do take an expired medication.
It can be dangerous to take certain medications after their expiration date. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about which medications can be toxic after expiration.
Insulin
When insulin breaks down, it undergoes structural changes, causing it to become less effective in reducing the blood sugar level. Using expired insulin is dangerous for people with diabetes. If blood sugar levels are not lowered effectively, this may also lead to serious complications such as diabetic ketoacidosis.
In a 2023 case study, a person developed acute erythrodermic psoriasis (a rash that develops all over the body) after taking insulin glargine (Lantus) that was 3 months past its expiration date. More research is needed to explore whether there is a link between using expired insulin and developing a rash.
Epinephrine
EpiPen, which contains epinephrine, is an emergency treatment used for severe allergic reactions, such as anaphylaxis. After its expiration date, EpiPen may not be as effective in treating these conditions, which can be life threatening.
Nitroglycerin
Nitroglycerin (Nitrostat) is used to treat chest pain, which can happen when part of the heart doesn’t get enough blood. This can lead to a heart attack.
An old 2018 study states that nitroglycerin is not a stable medication. This means it will break down over time, significantly reducing its effectiveness. Nitroglycerin’s effectiveness depends on several factors, such as temperature and storage.
Taking expired nitroglycerin can be dangerous. In serious cases, it may not be able to stop a heart attack.
Eye drops
After their expiration date, eye drops can become contaminated. This means they’re no longer sterile and cause the germs and bacteria to grow. This may lead to eye infections.
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Tetracycline
Certain antibiotics are not safe to take after their expiration date because they lose their potency. Taking expired antibiotics can lead to antibiotic resistance or harmful effects.
According to a 2019 study, taking expired tetracycline led to kidney damage in some people. More research will help determine if there is a link between expired tetracycline and kidney damage.
The FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend not taking expired medication. Instead, they recommend the
If you take an expired medication, you may have a
- developing a resistance to antibiotics
- worsening the condition that the medication is intended to treat
- developing a serious health condition
- getting an infection from bacteria that grew in the expired medication
What to do
If you’ve taken expired medication, you can:
- call 911 or go to your nearest emergency care center if you experience nausea or vomiting, difficulty breathing, rashes, or seizures
- talk with your doctor if you’ve taken an expired drug and aren’t experiencing concerning side effects, since a lot of medications may not cause you harm if you’ve taken them after their expiration date
- visit the poison control center’s online guidance tool or call 800-222-1222.
Also, talk with a pharmacist to request a refill on your medication or set up an appointment with your doctor to get a new prescription if needed.
Expiration dates are an important part of the regulations for drugs.
Some critical medications, like insulin or epinephrine, can become less effective after expiration, which can be harmful. Using expired drugs may result in serious health risks such as high blood sugar, ineffective treatment during emergencies, infections, or even kidney damage.
The FDA and CDC advise against using expired medications and recommend safe disposal instead. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about expired medications.