What happens to expired perscription drugs?

Question:

Do they go down in quality? Do they get stronger? Or will they merely kill you in your sleep?

Answers:
most expired meds just lose their potency. a few weeks to a couple of months past the expiration date and they will still be ok. anything over 6 months should be tossed out. make sure to remove your label first so someone can't find your personal info if they decide to rummage through your trash

Other Answers:
Depends on the drug. Ask your pharmacist.

They go down in quality and after a while, they won't do anything at all. they get thrown in the trash

I think they expire because they lose their strength. They aren't as effective as they age.

You should not take perscription drugs that are over 6 months old.
Source(s):
thats what my Dr told me

Throw them away. Flush them down the toilet so no one can dig them out of your trash and maybe die from swallowing the medication.

Different drugs react differently to aging. Some lose strength; some become more virulent.

Flush them down the toilet. Selling them for a buck or two is not worth a prison sentence for man slaughter.

I've gotten an upset stomache from taking prescriptions past the expiration date.

Also, you are "supposed to" return your expired prescription to the pharmacy for them to dispose of. Wonder if they would exchange the pills. =-)

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What happens to expired perscription drugs?

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