Expired OTC Medication

[JMHO]

How long past the expiration date would you use expired medication? 3 months? 6 months? A year?

I'm referring to non prescription, brand name OTC products like Tylenol, Advil, Sudafed, etc where is no adverse health risk.

[srap]

How long past the expiration date would you use expired medication? 3 months? 6 months? A year?

I'm referring to non prescription, brand name OTC products like Tylenol, Advil, Sudafed, etc where is no adverse health risk.

I find my local pharmacists know the answers to these questions.  Some meds just lose potency, while others can be dangerous.  There is always a fudge factor built in (think law suits).

[yesitsme]

100 years
it just loses potency over the years

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7040264/

[YitzyS]

I've heard that most things can be used until 1 year after the expiration date with no ramifications, and to toss after a year. Don't remember where I heard it from, but that's what I usually do.

[myi]

Even creams?

  Silverdene, or other burn creams (still have those yellow colored burn creams, 25 years old.) Hemorrhoidal creams?
   I guess you'll know pretty fast if those work out or not, or it might work but not to its full potential.

[beeweegee]

How long past the expiration date would you use expired medication? 3 months? 6 months? A year?

I'm referring to non prescription, brand name OTC products like Tylenol, Advil, Sudafed, etc where is no adverse health risk.

Even in situations with a likely minimal health risk, you probably should generally try to avoid getting medical advice on an online forum. (Although I realize you aren't necessarily asking for advice but just asking what people do, but still...)

[ckmk47]

I use pill comfortably for about a year after their expiration date.
But since medicines lose potency over time, I can't use them reliably if they're too old.  ie. If I still have pain after taking the usual amount, do I have something serious wrong, or did I just take too small a dose of active ingredient?
Cream I almost never check for an expiration date.  It's rarely dangerous to put on more than recommended.


[Different topic:  Never overdose on tylenol/ acetaminophen (it's dangerous to the liver).  for example, if you take a cold medication with tylenol, don't take more tylenol ]