Does Prednisone Expire

Question

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) mandates expiration dates on all medications to ensure safety and efficacy. However, it's worth noting that many medications remain effective even past these dates. In fact, a significant quantity of these outdated medicines are donated to countries in need, such as various regions in Africa and Bangladesh, where they can still be of great help. It's important to understand that most medications do not become toxic after expiration, with the notable exception of certain antibiotics. While some, like penicillin, may lose potency over time, adjustments in dosage can sometimes compensate for this reduced efficacy.

David · Accepted Answer

According to the following Harvard Medical School family health article, many medications can actually last up to 15 years or more past the expiration date. From what I've read, tetracycline based antibiotics are one of the few exceptions due to the toxicity they develop.

Ref: health.harvard.edu/fhg/updates/update1103a.shtml

So although Prednisone tablets are listed as having a shelf-life of 2 years from the date of manufacture [1], this suggests it may still retain most of it's potency well after that point.

Hope this info helps!

Does Prednisone Expire

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