Expired medication

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notime

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I was running out of medication. I asked my father to go pick up the new bottle. He thought he was a genius, he found a bottle from 2014 that was expired and half full. He tried to force me to take it, and told me to split up the doses to match what I take now.

I had to walk 5 miles just to pick it up myself since I couldn't find anybody else to do it. Medicaid is kicking in now. Will they pay to have medicine shipped to your house on time? My father argued, and said how pathetic and scared I am. He acts like he is a doctor. I've been seizure free for two years almost. ... Has anybody else taken expired medications?
 
I have taken some medications (not seizure meds) after expiration. Last week I took a pill that expired 8/2014 with no problems.

How the pills are stored while they age is probably more important than the actual expiration date up to a certain age.
 
Seems like I've heard this sad story before and it is your father who is pathetic. He needs to speak with a dr. if he "thinks" he is a dr. Taking an expired medication can bring on a seizure and cause side effects, so it's best to get an updated refill.

http://www.epilepsy.com/get-help/managing-your-epilepsy/managing-triggers/medication-adherence
Why is medication adherence important?
Medications will only work if they can be taken regularly. The brain needs a constant supply of seizure medicine to work to stop and prevent seizures. When doses are missed or the medicine is taken irregularly, you are at greater risk of having seizures. It also makes you more likely to have side effects. Instead of having a stable amount in your body, you’ll have lots of ups and downs. When the medicine level goes up, side effects will occur. When doses are missed and the level drops, seizures may occur.
There are many reasons for adherence problems, including memory problems, side effects, or instructions that are too complicated. When any of these occur, it’s critical that the reasons are sorted out and easier ways of taking medicine are found. It’s the only way you can help the medicine work for you every day.
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And as far as medicaid, check this website:
https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid-c...on/program-information/downloads/mmf-2013.pdf
 
Frink said:
How the pills are stored while they age is probably more important than the actual expiration date up to a certain age.
Click to expand...

According to www.drugs.com, a person with a seizure disorder shouldn't take an expired medication.

http://www.drugs.com/article/drug-expiration-dates.html
What is the bottom line?

Should patients use expired medications or not? If a medication is needed, and the patient is not able to replace the expired medication, there is no evidence that it is unsafe to take the medication in most cases. However, if a medication is essential for a chronic and potentially life-threatening disease, for example, a heart condition, seizure, or life-threatening allergy, it is probably wise to get a new prescription once expired.
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Cint said:
According to www.drugs.com, a person with a seizure disorder shouldn't take an expired medication.

http://www.drugs.com/article/drug-expiration-dates.html
Click to expand...

"What is the bottom line?

Should patients use expired medications or not? If a medication is needed, and the patient is not able to replace the expired medication, there is no evidence that it is unsafe to take the medication in most cases. However, if a medication is essential for a chronic and potentially life-threatening disease, for example, a heart condition, seizure, or life-threatening allergy, it is probably wise to get a new prescription once expired. "


I agree with what drugs.com said, "it is probably wise to get a new prescription once expired", but I would not fret over taking a properly stored and expired medication especially if it was my only option.

I also agree that the OP's father has some major issues.
 
In a situation where a person has to potentially take an expired medication I would phone the pharmacist, explain the situation, and ask how much potency the medication would lose if it is two years beyond the expiry date. This does vary somewhat from one medication to the next. Many pharmacies have delivery for those who are homebound, usually for a nominal cost esp. if there is someone else in that 5 miles who also needs a delivery. However, they may not be able to deliver on the spot and it may take a few days for them to have the staff available for a delivery so definitely don't wait until you are completely out of medication to ask for delivery. Inquire now about your pharmacy's delivery, and if they don't deliver phone around to find one who does.
 
notime,
You are the person living with E, NOT your father! If he is so smart, ask him if he would eat some food that was over 2 years past it's expiration date and feel comfortable about it. It is surprising to see how many 'Oh, I would do that', you're a coward if you don't' people would turn tail and run if they had face the same situation! You need to do what You feel is the right thing to do, NOT what somebody else says!

ACsHuman
 
Just like generics vs. name brands an expired medication has a variance in composition that can change the effectiveness of the medication. Neurological medications when a small percentage off can dramatically affect Epilepsy whereas taking an recently expired Tylenol has less chance of a severe impact.
People, such as the father, have a hard time understanding the delicate balance since it does not exist on that level with cough medicine and Tylenol. I have generic vs name brand argument every couple years with the mail order pharmacy(I must use) every couple years. They decide it is best for me to have the generic then I get a person that doesn't get it then I educate them in a way I wouldn't recommend for a father.
Get some information to educate him on how Epilepsy medications are more dangerous when expired and then give him in general knowledge on expired medications.

notime you are not scared and pathetic, you are smart and pragmatic. Those words start with the same letters but how amazing it is that the different letters behind the first letter can really change the outcome of what you think.........maybe the letters expired..hmmmmm
 
I don't think I've ever taken expired epilepsy meds. I found some in a pill case in my purse once. I don't know how long they were in there but it had to be for a while because the pills weren't in the right spot that I take them now so I tossed them.

I think the only expired meds that I've taken are over the counter pain meds like Advil or Tylenol. I didn't realize that they were expired when I took them but when I went to take more later I saw the date on the bottle. I didn't have any problems but I went out and got new ones and tossed those.
 
notime said:
I was running out of medication. I asked my father to go pick up the new bottle. He thought he was a genius, he found a bottle from 2014 that was expired and half full. He tried to force me to take it, and told me to split up the doses to match what I take now.

I had to walk 5 miles just to pick it up myself since I couldn't find anybody else to do it. Medicaid is kicking in now. Will they pay to have medicine shipped to your house on time? My father argued, and said how pathetic and scared I am. He acts like he is a doctor. I've been seizure free for two years almost. ... Has anybody else taken expired medications?
Click to expand...

Most studies show that pills remain effective long after the expiration date. I'm not sure about liquids. I know there are some liquid antibiotics that go bad quickly.

Aspirin is an exception. If it smells like vinegar it has gone bad and should be thrown away.
 
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I have this med that expired a touch over three years ago and just don't have the guts to toss it. Thought about taking it several times so I didn't have to go get a refill. Each time though I just don't have the guts to try using it. Then after getting the refill I just put the expired drug back up in the cupboard... just don't have guts to toss it.

Yes, have heard it is good many years past expiration day, but I always have that, "what if." :ponder:
 
I've taken liquids before the drug I was trying the pill was so big I couldn't get it down not even when I broke it 1/2 I have a problem with my throat some times.
The liquid was fine.
 
cadsgj said:
I have this med that expired a touch over three years ago and just don't have the guts to toss it. Thought about taking it several times so I didn't have to go get a refill. Each time though I just don't have the guts to try using it. Then after getting the refill I just put the expired drug back up in the cupboard... just don't have guts to toss it.

Yes, have heard it is good many years past expiration day, but I always have that, "what if." :ponder:
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I still have some clonazepam, keppra and ativan kicking around, none of which I take anymore. The keppra is the "newest" and it expired in early 2014. I only just recently tossed out clobazam that expired 2011. I would never take any of these pills but as for cadsgj, I just have a tough time throwing them out. I think part of it is related to the fact that for me it is like throwing out money; I would never just toss $45 into the garbage (what all these pills cost me).
 
I remember (or at least I think I remember) an organization that would take old and expired medications for use in 3rd world countries, I think it was in the 80's-90's.
 
I have some old Dilantin on the shelf. Dilantin is one of the seizure meds that you can ramp up quickly on, so if I were really, really, really in a jam I could take a pill or two to tide me over. Even if its strength has lessened it would be better than nothing. But I doubt I'll ever need to take it.
 
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