Effectiveness Of Old Medication

Updated

Can I still benefit from taking 10 year old Morphine Sulfate 20mg/ml oral solution

2 Replies

Earliest Newest Votes
1

Hi Smith! After a medication expires, it lose"s it's effectiveness. Especially after 10 years. U should call your Doctor 4 a new prescription.

Was this helpful? 0
2

@Smith,

According to a Harvard Medical School family health article, except in rare cases (i.e. tetracycline), there is little chance of danger due to taking medications even up to 15 years beyond their expiration date. This conclusion was based upon a study conducted at the request of the US military due to stockpiles of expensive drugs they could otherwise need to replace every few years. The conclusion was that 90% of those drugs remained effective 10 - 15 years after the expiration date.

I don't know whether or not the drug you have happens to be one of these drugs from the study... (I have not seen the list of drugs used in this study). But I'd imagine that most pain medications (OTC or Rx) would certainly be drugs of interest upon making such claims.

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

Unless you're able to determine if your medication falls under this category, I wouldn't suggest taking any chances just to play it safe. I suppose the only real way to know if it maintained it's potency after expiration would be to have it lab tested; which could potentially cost just as much or more than refilling your prescription.

I hope this info helps!

Was this helpful? 0

More Discussions:

effectiveness of older pills

I have a prescription for Cymbalta thats about 6yrs old...will the pills still work? ## At this point, you should really...

1 REPLY
the effectiveness of dextroamphetamine that is old

I have filled a prescription for dextroamphetamine in October 2016. I misplaced it and now found it. Is it still good? #...

2 REPLIES
Loss of effectiveness

I've been on contrave for about 5 or 6 months. I went from 205 to 188 in first 3 months. I'm back up to 195 now....

5 REPLIES
Effectiveness of various manufacturers generic Adderall

Many pharmacies use whatever companies products are currently available to to dispense. Shire's name brand products ...

16 REPLIES
Effectiveness of ketoanalogue ketobest to lower creatinine level

Does ketobest lower creatinine level? Is it safe to use daily as vitamin for kidney? ## What are the effects of ketobest...

6 REPLIES
EFFECTIVENESS OF MOVANTIK

Hao effective % tage wise is MOVANTIK with the culprit of OIC? I have had a pain pump put in a year ago with 95% Morphin...

4 REPLIES
Effectiveness of AlgeaCal instead of Prolia

Need everyone’s advice, good or bad, on AlgaeCal or similar products. Latest DEXA for me is -3.6 which is the wors...

2 REPLIES
Effectiveness of 3.7mg of clorazepate as compared to 7.5mg

I have taken 7.5 mg of clorazepate for 10 years and my doctor has decreased the dosage to 3.7mg. It is not working now. ...

2 REPLIES
effectiveness of tryptomer 10 mg

My doctor prescribed tryptomer 10mg with meveberine for treatment of undiagnosed abdominal pain which is getting severe ...

1 REPLY
effectiveness of dynapar

I suffer from gaut on my left leg near the big toe. How effective is this tablet and what are the side effects of long t...

1 REPLY