This question is about expired prescriptions. If you have a 600 mg Ibuprofen prescription that is out of date by a few months does it become dangerous to take or simply less effective?

I believe it's less effective.
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Hum, this is not the question I clicked on.

If it is out of date it is out of date. Do not use it, throw it away!

As for how medicines age it can vary wildly. It may become stronger (too strong?) or it may become weaker. It may even turn into something entirely else. eg poison :(

My Doctor told me most meds like Ibuprofen are good for a long time past the expiration date.

I use very little meds and a bottle of Ibuprofen will last for five or six years. Only a slight decline in potency after the expiration date.

Deaves is exactly right.

Most medicines (Ibuprofen being one) are perfectly safe to take long after the expiration date. Expect a slightly reduced efficacy though, and (even if it doesn't work as well as before) don't exceed the recommended dose to compensate for that.

Easy.........just ask your local pharmacist rather than relying on people here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

May be less effective, I would use them.

This would be true.

With the exception of aspirin and penicillin, most meds are good for YEARS after their expiration date.  

With that particular medication probably neither. It should remain fully potent and no more dangerous for a very long time after that date; years, in fact. There are some exceptions, of course. (And with liquid drugs that are reconstituted by the pharmacist prior to dispensing and/or drugs that require refrigeration that date is is much more relevant.)  Here's a link to what some little-known doctors' college has to say on the subject . . . .

http://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/drug-expiration-dates...

With that particular medication you can use the OTC version as well if you have to pay out-of-pocket. For 600-mg worth take 3 of the 200-mg OTC tabs, after checking with your physician of course. (Taking a prescribed medication for anything other than what it was prescribed for or after its expiration date may be technically a violation of the law but actual enforcement of those kinds of laws is usually reserved for narcotic prescriptions, not analgesics.)

Which drug company do you work for?

If the pills are a simple pain med, it should be safe to take. I know I've taken stronger pain meds that expired without any adverse effects. I wouldn't take the pill if it was for a life a life threatening condition or if it was an antibiotic.

If drug manufacturers are the ones saying to throw all expired medications away, in my opinion it's self serving. Of course they would rather have you request another refill. I rarely throw medications away. I have years of medications stored away because even if I stop taking an Rx, I still get it refilled. It's easier to request a refill than is to get your doctor to start it up again after you stopped it

Ibuprofin?  I would take it if it were 2 years out of date.  That stuff does not go bad and if it did, it would simply be less effective.  That stuff is safe.  It is like white flour.  It really doesn't go BAD.  It just doesn't work as well. 

(Doesn't work as well = less effective, right?)

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Lol.
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Lol!

:)

:)

Thank you for your answer Sharonna. We have a bottle that shows an expiration date of April 2016. We RARELY take pain meds but on occasion it is sometimes helpful in the short term just to get through a rough patch! :).

The expiration date is April 2016. We seldom take pain pills PC but once in awhile taking one helps us get through a rough patch. Thank you for your reply! :)

I did not know that PeaPod. The expiration date is April 2016 so  I guess it's will be good for awhile. Thank you for your reply and Happy Thursday!  :)

Thank you for your reply JakobA. It's a pain relief med. I don't think it would be poison. :)Happy Friday! :)