Are expired drugs safe or dangerous, other medicinal and pharmaceutical questions?

Question

With exception to drugs in liquid form, including liquid capsules, are expired prescription drugs safe? That is to say, the worst thing that can happen is they lose some or all of their potency.

I have some Temaze and Diclofenac that may or may not be expired as they were dispensed to me in pharmaceutical containers. Is Diclofenac considered a dangerous drug? I just looked at the potential side effects that the doctor failed to mention and they were quite extreme.

Is the pharmacy under no obligation to indicate the expiration date on their containers?

Are pharmacies also allowed to simply give you generics (they gave me generic Diclofenac, hence getting it in a pharmaceutical bottle) without asking you first?

Are Temaze tablets usually dispensed in less than 25 pills, which is what makes up one factory container and therefore resulted in me getting a pharmaceutical bottle? I’m in Australia, but imagine these laws shouldn’t differ much on developed continents.

Thanks

Answer 1

The issue with expired medications is not that they lose potency but some become more potent and can cause severe side effects.  

On the pharmacy container there should ALWAYS be an expiration date (if you are in the US - not sure about other countries) -- if there isn't I would go back to the pharmacy and ask.  

Yes - pharmacies are allowed to give generics - unless the doctor has put on the Rx that the med is to be dispensed exactly as written (i.e. no generics)