What does the expiration date on medication mean?

Question

Is the expiration date on medication just to say when the drug loses potency or does it become dangerous to take it after that point?

Answer 1

I gave you the answer to this yesterday. It is OK to take your concerta.

Medications, after their expiration date may or may not loose their potency. These meds are tested for a certain period of time and their expiration shows either when they would start loosing the potency or if the testing period is over (usually 3 years). You can still take the med years later, obviously if it is loosing effect get new script.

9 hours ago

Answer 2

Who cares, you would be foolish to keep taking it after it expires.

Answer 3

Most of the time it is just because the drug starts to lose its effectiveness after a while, especially antibiotics.

It is recommended to follow the expiration date on all medication.  However sometimes you find cold/flu medication that is expired.  In this case I would ask a pharmacist before using.  Most of the time it will be ok.