When you are given a prescription by your doctor, or your veterinarian prescribes medication for your pet, you are usually given a specific quantity of medication along with instructions on its proper use, and directions to take the medication until it is all gone. However, veterinarians, physicians and pharmacists know that it is common for people to stop taking or giving a medication once the symptoms go away. In other words, when you receive a prescription, you only use part of the capsules, pills or liquid and have some left over. So, what should you do with any leftover medication, and how long will it keep?
All medications come from the manufacturer with an expiration date on the stock bottle. When dispensed into a pill vial, this date may or may not be put onto the prescription label, depending on labeling regulations in your community. As a general rule, this expiration date represents a ‘best before’ date, related to the chemical stability of the product. However, outside factors can influence the shelf life of medications, including exposure to light, heat, humidity, improper storage, etc.
To some extent, the formulation of a product determines its stability. Pills and capsules that are stored in a clean, dry, sealed container at room temperature tend to have a reasonably long shelf life. Exceptions to this include Vitamin C and essential fatty acids, which break down rapidly if exposed to air.
If the medication is a powder that is reconstituted with liquid before use, it tends to be reasonably stable before reconstitution. Once mixed with water, liquid medications have a short shelf life that can range from a few hours for an injectable product to a few days or weeks for an orally administered product. Storage and handling are critical factors in preserving the shelf-life for liquid medications; some may need to be refrigerated, while others will break down more rapidly if refrigerated; some liquids must be shaken well before use, while others, such as insulin, must never be shaken.
In some cases, the medication will change its appearance or consistency as it breaks down. Before you use any liquid medication, inspect the liquid for abnormalities – for example, if it was previously clear and it is now cloudy – even if it has NOT expired – DON’T use it. Pills or capsules change their texture with age, and may become crumbly, hard or sticky. However, some medications do not undergo a change in appearance when they are expired.
As a general rule you should discard any liquid medication 2 weeks after it was mixed and discard any pills or capsules 6 months after they were dispensed. This is the rationale behind recommending that you clean out your medicine cabinet twice a year and discard any expired products. Never give unused products to a friend or donate them to an animal rescue organization – prescription drugs can cause serious problems when used inappropriately. And NEVER flush expired medication down a drain or throw it into the garbage; instead contact your veterinarian or pharmacist for advice on safe disposal in an environmentally friendly manner.
Remember — using a product after it has expired may put your pet at risk – in most cases, the product will not be as effective, but the occasional product may become toxic or cause serious side-effects. Even when times are tough, is it really worth the risk to your pet from using expired medications?
Most veterinarians, physicians, and pharmacists will tell you to honor the expiration date on the package. That is the safest way to ensure that the medication is stable. To be honest, many worry that there are liability issues involved if they tell you a medication is okay to use and it is not. This is understandable. I would not want to tell you that a medication is still good and it doesn’t work to later find out that it didn’t work putting your pet at risk.
Injectable medications are generally considered less stable and often have shorter shelf lives than an oral pill or capsule medication. Some unopened medications can chemically be stable for at least 1 year beyond the expiration. Once opened, it is best to honor the labeled expiration date.
Medication still in powder form is probably still good for 1 to 2 years beyond the expiration on the label.
The honest answer is…probably most oral pill or capsule medications are good for longer than their expiration dates. How long? I don’t know. For some medications, I would feel comfortable using on my own pets if they were expired by 1 to 2 years. Longer than 2 years, then I’d replace. If my pet was REALLY ill â then I would NOT use any expired medication. If my pet was…itching and it was 3 am and all I had was some expired Benadryl â I’d probably try it. This is what I would do and does not mean that it is right or wrong.
The expiration of a medication varies based on several factors including the type of medication and the manufacturer. Most oral pills or capsules expire in 1 to 2 years from the date of manufacturing. Are they good longer than this?
The American Veterinary Medical Association mandates that veterinary drug expiration dates be provided on all dispensed medications when appropriate. All drugs originating from our pharmacy will have one displayed on the label.
Ineffectiveness – Using a medication that is not as potent as intended could result in the medication being ineffective. This can delay appropriate treatment, allowing for a condition to worsen in the interim, potentially putting the pet at risk. Incomplete antibiotic courses, even if not expired, can result in lack of treatment, subjecting the pet to relapse or even antibiotic resistance.
Over time, any substance undergoes chemical changes simply due to environmental exposure. Prescription medications are no different. The FDA has set the legal definition for expiration to be the time at which 10% of the active pharmaceutical ingredient has decomposed.
For some people expiration dates are a hard and fast rule. Gallon of milk that expired yesterday? Not worth it. For others, though, dates on food and other items are viewed as merely a suggestion. That yogurt in the back of the fridge probably has at least a week or two past the stamped date, right?
Many drugs, such as antibiotics, are intended to be given as a full course with no leftovers. Others, though, may be prescribed on an as needed basis. This makes it more important to keep close tabs on the the expiration date.
If the medication is a powder that is reconstituted with liquid before use, it tends to be reasonably stable before reconstitution. Once mixed with water, liquid medications have a short shelf life that can range from a few hours for an injectable product to a few days or weeks for an orally administered product. Storage and handling are critical factors in preserving the shelf-life for liquid medications; some may need to be refrigerated, while others will break down more rapidly if refrigerated; some liquids must be shaken well before use, while others, such as insulin, must never be shaken.
When you are given a prescription by your doctor, or your veterinarian prescribes medication for your pet, you are usually given a specific quantity of medication along with instructions on its proper use, and directions to take the medication until it is all gone. However, veterinarians, physicians and pharmacists know that it is common for people to stop taking or giving a medication once the symptoms go away. In other words, when you receive a prescription, you only use part of the capsules, pills or liquid and have some left over. So, what should you do with any leftover medication, and how long will it keep?
In some cases, the medication will change its appearance or consistency as it breaks down. Before you use any liquid medication, inspect the liquid for abnormalities – for example, if it was previously clear and it is now cloudy – even if it has NOT expired – DON’T use it. Pills or capsules change their texture with age, and may become crumbly, hard or sticky. However, some medications do not undergo a change in appearance when they are expired.
To some extent, the formulation of a product determines its stability. Pills and capsules that are stored in a clean, dry, sealed container at room temperature tend to have a reasonably long shelf life. Exceptions to this include Vitamin C and essential fatty acids, which break down rapidly if exposed to air.
All medications come from the manufacturer with an expiration date on the stock bottle. When dispensed into a pill vial, this date may or may not be put onto the prescription label, depending on labeling regulations in your community. As a general rule, this expiration date represents a ‘best before’ date, related to the chemical stability of the product. However, outside factors can influence the shelf life of medications, including exposure to light, heat, humidity, improper storage, etc.
FAQ
How long is the shelf life for trazodone for dogs?
What happens if you give a dog expired medication?
Do prescriptions for dogs expire?
What are the side effects of trazodone in dogs?
- Drowsiness/lethargy.
- Panting.
- Anxiety/pacing.
- Vomiting.
- Diarrhea.
- Changes in appetite.
- Increased aggression.