Judy asked
Can you take Tylenol 2 years after it expired and was never opened
Answer
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and drug manufacturers do not recommend taking expired medications. However, studies have shown that most medications that have expired are still potent and safe for >15 years after the drug manufacturer expiration date.
Drug manufacturers are required to put an expiration date on all their products by the FDA. Many drugs can lose potency over time, so the expiration date is the date at which the drug manufacturer can still guarantee the drug is still safe and effective.
Most of what is known about drug expiration dates come from a study done by the FDA at the request of the military. The study found >90% of the 100 drugs included were still good up to 15 years after their expiration date. There are certain medications that are an exception to this such as insulins, compounded liquid medications, and nitroglycerin.
Other factors can play a role in whether a medication is safe to take such as how and where the medication is stored. For example, extreme temperatures and moisture can affect the safety and efficacy of certain medications. Also, liquid medications that have been opened and not stored properly can grow bacteria which can reduce the safety of taking the medication. All these factors should be taken into consideration before choosing to take a medication.
Summary
Although it is not recommended to take expired medications, there are studies that show they may still be effective past the manufacturer’s expiration date. It is important to consider how the medication has been stored and if it has been tampered with. If you think it is possible it has been stored improperly, I would not recommend taking the medication.
