Can Expired Pain Pills Be Harmful? Should You Take Them?

Expired Pain Pills Warning

In 1979, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration began to mandate that prescription and over-the-counter medications have an expiration date. The expiration date is an important factor in determining whether the product is safe to use and will function properly.

The expiration date can be found printed on the label or stamped onto the bottle or carton, sometimes following “EXP.” It is crucial to know and stick to the expiration date of your medication. Using expired pain pills and medical products is risky and possibly harmful to your health.

Can Pain Pills Expire?

Overall, it’s really difficult to determine whether or not expired pain pills are safe, so medical professionals advise never using them, because of the risk of the unknown. Do pain pills expire? Yes. And failing to safely dispose of old medications, especially expired opioids, all too often leads to dangerous drugs ending up in the wrong hands. [2]

In addition to the risk of someone taking these leftover prescriptions, having expired pharmaceuticals around your house increases the potential of your loved ones or pets taking them, which can result in significant adverse effects or death.

Prescription Drugs Addiction Statistics

Prescription drug abuse and misuse cause the largest percentage of deaths from drug overdoses. Taking expired pain pills might also be as dangerous. When it comes to medications with a high potential for abuse, such as opioids, it’s especially vital to dispose of expired pain pills since you’re helping to avoid possible abuse of the drug by individuals around you who may have access to it. If you have any questions regarding medication or what to do if it has expired, see your doctor.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), in 2020, approximately 12,290 people died from an overdose involving benzodiazepines. And approximately 16,416 people died from an overdose involving prescription opioids. [3]

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Safety Issues of Expired Pain Pills

Along with how well a drug will work, something else to consider within the context of medication expiration is its safety. The chemical and physical elements of a drug can change over time, which can lead to safety issues. There are often physical signs of these changes, such as discoloration of expired pain pills.

Despite the fact that some expired pain pills may be effective beyond their expiration dates, studies also conclude that the true shelf life of medication varies by the:

• Medication itself
• The particular batch of the medication
• Storage conditions, including heat, humidity, and length of time the container has been open

Some claim that the details matter when it comes to considering expired pain pills. The explanation is that occasionally turning to expired medications for inconvenient, uncomfortable symptoms carries less risk than relying on expired medication for a serious health condition you may have.

For example, taking an expired antihistamine to fight a bout of seasonal allergies or a pain reliever to relieve a headache may be harmless, with the worst-case scenario being that the medicine just doesn’t help you feel better. On the other hand, relying on expired heart medication could lead to a dangerous and even life-threatening heart problem or complication. In this case, you should never take expired medication and call your doctor immediately when a refill is required.

Expired Pain Pills Abuse

Prescription drug abuse is at an all-time high in the United States, and keeping unused and expired medicines such as Xanax or opioids, can lead to an increased likelihood of abuse of these drugs. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration warns that many abused prescription drugs that ultimately lead to accidental overdoses and addiction are obtained from friends and family.

Taking Expired Xanax

When people are wondering what happens when you take expired pills, one of the most common drugs they’re referring to is Xanax. With Xanax, an anti-anxiety medication, people will often give or sell their unused pills to friends or family members, and if they’re expired, it can be troubling.

First, prescription medicines like Xanax are only guaranteed safe and effective up to the expiration date that’s listed. Also, you should realize that anytime you’re taking Xanax without a prescription, that’s considered abuse of the drug. Of course, expired Xanax or any expired pills may still be safe, but they may not be, so it’s not a risk worth taking.

Shelf Life of Adderall

How long does it take for Adderall to expire? After opening, Adderall must be used within a year. Adderall should be used as prescribed medications in accordance with your doctor’s recommendations and used up within a year. The typical expiration date is one year, beyond which the main concern is diminished efficacy.

• Oxycodone (OxyContin) – It is commonly sold under the brand name OxyContin. It’s also sold in combination with acetaminophen as Percocet. It changes how your central nervous system (CNS) responds to pain. Like heroin, it creates a euphoric, sedative effect. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), 58.8 million prescriptions for oxycodone were dispensed in the United States in 2013. Does oxycodone expire? Yes. You should not take this medicine after its expiry date. If you’ve had medicine for a while, check the expiry date before using it. You should also make sure that you’ve stored the medicine properly, as described on the packaging or leaflet. When does oxycodone expire? Drug expiration dates exist on most medication labels, it could be best to also consult your doctor. Keeping unused and expired pain pills such as oxycodone pose a great risk of overdose and drug misuse.
• Codeine – Codeine is typically prescribed to treat mild to moderate pain. It’s also combined with other medications to treat cold and flu symptoms. For example, it’s commonly found in prescription-strength cough syrup. When consumed in high quantities, codeine-based cough syrup has a sedative effect. It can also cause altered levels of consciousness. It provides the base for an illicit drug concoction known as “purple drank,” “sizzurp,” or “lean.” This concoction also contains soda and sometimes candy.
• Fentanyl – Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid. It’s prescribed for acute and chronic pain, typically in people with cancer. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it’s 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine. It creates feelings of euphoria and relaxation. Fentanyl is also illegally manufactured and sold as an illicit recreational drug. In many cases, it’s mixed with heroin, cocaine, or both. In October 2017, the CDC reported that fentanyl is involved in over half of opioid-related overdose deaths across 10 states. In addition to the common signs and symptoms associated with opioid misuse, fentanyl misuse may also lead to hallucinations and bad dreams.
• Meperidine (Demerol) – Meperidine is a synthetic opioid. It’s often sold under the brand name Demerol. It’s typically used to treat moderate to severe pain. Like other opioids, it produces feelings of euphoria.

Reclaim Your Life From Pain Pills Abuse

Pain pills addiction is a chronic disease that can cause major health, social, and economic problems that should not be taken lightly. We Level Up rehab treatment & detox center can provide you, or someone you love, with the tools to recover from pain pills addiction with professional and safe treatment. Feel free to call us to speak with one of our drug addiction counselors. Call us about your symptoms, and we can help you determine and develop a treatment plan.

10 Most What Happens When You Take Expired Pain Pills? Frequently Asked Questions