Harry asked
Can you take expired penicillin? I have an infection and I found an old prescription I used to take.
Answer
Expired penicillin should not be taken. Penicillin is an antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections of the skin, ear, nose, and throat and other types of infections. However, it is not an appropriate drug therapy for all types of infections and will not work on viral infections such as the common cold or flu. Your doctor or primary care provider will need to determine if penicillin would be an appropriate therapy.
Also, since the medication is expired, there is no guarantee that the penicillin has retained all of it's potency and that it would still would considered safe and effective. According to the FDA, taking expired antibiotics, like penicillin, can contribute to antibiotic resistance which can make it more difficult to treat bacterial infections.
Furthermore, antibiotics, like penicillin, should always be taken as directed. This means doses should not be skipped and the prescribed length of therapy should be followed. Discontinuing an antibiotic early can contribute to antibiotic resistance and make it more difficult to treat an infection in the future. It is important to take the whole course of medication and not stop when you are feeling better. If side effects from the antibiotic are a problem, make sure to talk to your pharmacist or other healthcare provider.
As stated before, expired penicillin should not be taken. There is no guarantee that the medication would still be considered safe and effective. Furthermore, a doctor or other primary care provider would need to determine if penicillin would be an appropriate therapy for what ails you.
