I hold some alka seltzer plus cold medication expires 4/05, is it ok to nick?
Answer:
It may not work. I had some ripened meds and wondered why they didn't work, and then I notice the expiration date.
They don't lose all their potency on the expiration date, but after 2 years I wouldn't count on it.
No. At best it have degraded and will not work well. At worst, it could damge your kidneys and liver.
They should be okay--I've used expired cold medicine with no sick effects. Remember that a couple of decades ago non-perishable foods and meds/vitamins, etc. had no expiration date on them. If you are truly concerned, ring up a pharmacist to ask.
a medicines reach it's expiration when it loses 10 percent of it's potency. that is something like the time of the expiration date. it won't hurt you to take it but it won't work as in good health as fresh medicine. alka seltzer is cheap. move about buy some new.
NO.....find some new stuff.
The involved ingredients will no longer be effective.
When contained by doubt, don't take it. Call your pharmacist. If you don't own one, call a substantial, local pharmacy (like Meijer or Walgreen's) and speak to the pharmacist. They always know the answer to question like this. There are some medication that great stronger with age, so it's safest not to steal them past their expiration date unless you've cleared it near a professional pharmacist.