Does Tramadol Expire

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I pulled a muscle in my lower back and am in a lot of pain but am unemployed at the moment and can't afford to see a doctor and fill a new prescription. I found an old bottle of Tramadol HCL 50 MG with an expiration date of 3/22/2007. It has been stored in a cool, dark, dry cabinet all of this time. Does Tramadol HCL become unsafe or lose its potency after its expiration date, especially this long after?

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Top Answer
Unsafe: No. Loss of potency: Yes (to a degree)!

In the original factory sealed bottles that your pharmacy receives, most medications are touted to only be good for 3 years. Once those are opened and they are placed in a bottle that exposed them to heat and light, they're subject to degrade faster and will lose potency.

On the contrary however, something to keep in mind is that according to Harvard University’s Medical Center, “Most of what is known about drug expiration dates comes from a study conducted by the Food and Drug Administration at the request of the military. With a large and expensive stockpile of drugs, the military faced tossing out and replacing its drugs every few years. What they found from their study is that 90% of more than 100 drugs, both prescription and over-the-counter, were perfectly good to use even 15 years after the expiration date. So, the expiration date doesn't really indicate a point at which the medication is no longer effective or has become unsafe to use. While it's true that the effectiveness of a drug may decrease over time, much of the original potency still remains even a decade after the expiration date.”

Ref: health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/drug-expiration-dates-do-they-mean-anything

Hope this info helps!
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2

Thanks for the reply Verwon. I decided to try just one and it did indeed lose its potency. I hardly felt any difference. One thing that I did notice though was a strange, very mild taste in my mouth shortly after taking it. It may have been my imagination but I thought it worth mentioning.

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3

I've got 100x 50mg Tramadol capsules in foil blister packs, with an expiry date of Dec 2007.
I was prescribed them years back for extremely painful broken bones in my foot.
Last year I was knocked of my motorcycle and got a number of injuries that I'm still struggling with.

For a few months I was prescribed 60mg Codeine, but now I'm just on 1200mg ibuprofen and 4000mg paracetamol daily, but it's nowhere near as effective as the codeine was. Doc won't prescribe codeine again as it's addictive .....so, here I am, in constant pain and I've found my old unused box of tramadol. I'd really like some relief and respite from the constant hip and back pain I have, so do you think it would be ok to take some of the expired tramadol? 100mg at first I was thinking?
I was alright on it years back.

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4

Would tramadol be ok to give my dog if expiration 6/2012?

Was this helpful? 42
5

No!! Do not give your dog pain relievers that were specifically developed for humans! Tramadol is a synthetic opioid and could very well kill your dog if given to them as it was designed for human chemistry. {edited: inaccurate statement struck through}

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6

Tramadol is actually often prescribed for dogs. In fact, two of my dogs have both been prescribed Tramadol for pain relief: specifically, one 50mg tablet every 8 to 12 hours.

That being said, I don't recommend just giving it to your pet. See your vet and ask what he/she thinks first.

Was this helpful? 49
7

tramadol is constantly prescribed for dogs, but the expiration date means it might not be as effective. since your dog cant talk it might not really accomplish much.

Was this helpful? 16
8

Actually, two veterinarians have prescribed Tramadol - 50 mg for my dog. She gets 2 of them twice a day.

Was this helpful? 14
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The tramadol should still be effective,I have a heal that is really painful if I overdo it and I have tramadol that was dated 02/07 and it takes the throbbing and swelling right out. So use it and it will work for you. G of bless . hope this helps. Rocket666

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10

Does IM injection paliperidone palmitate (Invega Sustenna) lose potency or become unsafe if it has been stored far above room temperature for a few weeks?

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11

Sorry, wrong thread!

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12

Tramadol is used in dogs all the time but you MUST know the dosage for the weight of your dog!

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13

Tramadol is used on animals. Look it up on Pet Rx. My vet prescibes it. U need to know proper dosing. Take ur animal to the vet..

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14

I was prescribed tramadol 50mg 3x per day, to take with Oyxcondone Hal 30mg, I have spinal stenosis lower lumbar spine, in addition ridiclolopathy. Due to 2 accidents the tramadol don't help my pain at all. Than my doctor deducted me from 120 to 90 pills per month. My doctor says the Dea has told all patients that need more than 90 pills has to go to pain management, I went to the Dr my doctor referred me to, I was never so insulated in all the days of my life. This Dr told me I'm on to much narcotics medication, and he was going to give his injections nd put me in his in-house physical therapy. I would be better. When I told him I had gone to physical therapy for 10yrs, nd my Othro surgeon told me the only thing that would help maybe the surgery. So is it true a Dr can no longer give a prescription of more than 90 pills per month.

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15

I receive 180 tramadol Hcl pills amonth. I think the doc lied to you. I was prescribed to take 6 a day.

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16

As of August 18, 2014, Tramadol became a schedule IV medicine because people have started to abuse it. Practices are tightening up. Eventually everyone may have to get a new prescription every month.

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17

I noticed that when I get my prescription(Tramadol 50mg tab) from a different pharmacy the potency is different. Is this a fact or just in my head?

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18

Fact! different meds from different pharmacies are really different in potency and duration of relief... to me, that is.

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19

my poodle has tramadol that the vet gave her In 2012 can she use it ?

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20

My dog had tramadol in march 2011. When he got better I kept them and if he was in any pain would gave him one always worked with no problem used the last one earlier this year 2014. My dog a lot bigger tho he's a Rotti

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65

Re: Roxy (# 58) Expand Referenced Message

Yes it is safe to take that close to the expiration date.

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64

Can I take tramadol with ibuprofen Does tramadol lose effectiveness after expiration date?

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63

i hava tramadol 50 mg for injection but it is olready expired in 2016.but i have a tremendous back pain .so is it safe to use

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62

Re: HixHox (# 5) Expand Referenced Message

That's an extremely erroneous statement!!!
I know more than one very reputable vet that prescribes Tramadol, in fact, my cattle dog takes it for his arthritis on a pretty regular basis & he's definitely still ALIVE, but with alot less pain !!!
There any number of "human" drugs that are given to animals with great success...before u make statements that scare people half to death, TRY CHECKING OUT UR FACTS FIRST !!!

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61

Re: HixHox (# 5) Expand Referenced Message

I know this thread is yeeeeeaaaars old, but I just have to post this because it bothered me: Tramadol is safe for dogs to take as it is prescribed by veterinarians and is the exact same composition for either humans and dogs. So stop assuming things you know nothing about.

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60

Re: Mary Jean (# 19) Expand Referenced Message

I’ve experienced that by the end of the month tho potency of the tramadol seems less effective. I wonder if I sometimes get “old pills” at pickup.

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59

Re: Barbara W (# 14) Expand Referenced Message

This is so WRONG! I have been using tramadal for years and now my pain specialist titrated me from 600mg a day done to 300mg a day. Work has been very miserable but I am really trying. Now he wants to put me on Subutex to "detox" me. I just want to work and live a normal life. Is that asking too much?

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58

I have some tramadol that expired two months ago. Lately I've been experiencing some back pain and would like to take it and get some relief, but I'm not sure if it's safe to take?

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57

I would go to another doctor and explain what's going on.they may see something the 1st dr. Missed.

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56

I have left over tramadol for my dog after surgery but she has arthritis and I want to give it to her... but BUT AFTER READING THIS POST i WILL CALL MY VET

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