Are you the type of person who periodically checks your medicine cabinet and throws away all the medicines that are already expired? If yes, this blog post is for you. If you are someone who often asks, "Can I safely take a medication if it has reached the expiration date?"—keep reading.
What Does an Expiration Date Mean?
Drug expiration dates exist on most medication labels, including prescription, over-the-counter (OTC), and dietary (herbal) supplements. This practice began in 1979 when a law was passed requiring drug manufacturers to stamp an expiration date on their products. The expiration date marks the final day that the manufacturer guarantees the full potency and safety of a medication.
This is why expensive medicines from hospitals and pharmacies are discarded, despite the fact that in many parts of the world, medicines are either unavailable or too costly for people to afford. This raises ethical concerns about the waste of viable medicines while millions lack access to essential healthcare.
Studies on Expired Medicines
Case Study: Decades-Old Medicines Retain Potency
A forgotten box of prescription drugs, some predating the 1969 moon landing, was discovered in a retail pharmacy. Most were 30 to 40 years past their expiration dates—possibly toxic, probably worthless. However, two researchers—pharmacist Lee Cantrell and University of California, San Francisco researcher Roy Gerona—put them to the test.
The dates on drug labels indicate the period during which pharmaceutical companies guarantee effectiveness, typically two to three years. However, there is little incentive for drug makers to study whether they remain effective beyond that date.
Gerona’s lab tested the decades-old drugs, including defunct brands like Obocell diet pills and Bamadex. The bottles contained 14 different compounds, such as antihistamines, pain relievers, and stimulants—all in their original sealed containers.
The results were surprising: 12 of the 14 compounds were still as potent as when they were manufactured, some at almost 100% of their original labeled concentrations.
Cantrell summarized their findings: "Lo and behold, the active ingredients are pretty darn stable."
The Shelf Life Extension Program (SLEP)
In 1986, the U.S. Air Force, aiming to cut costs on medication replacements, asked the FDA to assess whether expiration dates could be extended. This led to the establishment of the Shelf Life Extension Program (SLEP) by the FDA and the Department of Defense.
Each year, drugs from military stockpiles are tested to determine whether their expiration dates can be extended safely. Over the years, the program has found that many drugs remain stable far beyond their original expiration dates.
Key findings from the SLEP program:
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Over 3,000 drug lots from 122 different drug products were assessed.
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Potency, pH, water content, dissolution, physical appearance, and impurity levels were analyzed.
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88% of tested lots were found stable beyond their expiration date, with an average extension of 66 months.
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12% remained stable for at least four years beyond the expiration date.
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Only 18% of lots were deemed unstable and removed from stock.
Common drugs that remained stable well past their expiration dates included amoxicillin, ciprofloxacin, diphenhydramine, and morphine sulfate injection, with expiration extensions ranging from 12 months to 184 months (over 15 years).
Full study available here: Stability Profiles of Expired Drugs
Why Are Expiration Dates So Short?
How did we get these strict expiration dates in the first place?
A cynical view (which may not be entirely incorrect) is that drug companies set expiration dates to encourage people to replace older medications more frequently, increasing sales. The more we throw away, the more we need to buy.
Pharmaceutical companies argue that extensive testing for prolonged drug stability is too expensive, especially since people store medications in varying conditions (heat, cold, humidity, etc.). Additionally, they claim that improvements in drug manufacturing and evolving drug information would make repeated “longevity” testing impractical. Instead, they opt for a conservative expiration window that guarantees effectiveness.
Are Expired Medications Dangerous?
According to James Reissig, a pharmacist at University Hospitals, "Very few medications become toxic when they are past their expiration date."
However, some medications should never be taken past their expiration date due to potential loss of effectiveness, which could be life-threatening in critical situations. These include:
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Blood thinners (Anticoagulants & antiplatelets)
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Inhalers, especially rescue inhalers
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Insulin
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Nitroglycerine tablets (for heart conditions)
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Seizure medications
Best Practices for Storing Medications
To maximize shelf life and effectiveness:
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Store medications in a dark, temperature-controlled, and humidity-controlled location.
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Avoid keeping medications in the bathroom, where frequent humidity changes can degrade them.
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Always store medications out of reach of children and pets.
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If a bottle or box has been opened (whether in a pharmacy or at home), its expiration date can no longer be fully guaranteed.
Final Thoughts
So, the next time you see an expired medicine in your cabinet, remember these studies and decide for yourself. While official guidelines err on the side of caution, scientific research suggests that many medications retain their potency well beyond their labeled expiration dates. However, always consult a healthcare professional if you are unsure.
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