# Expired Allergy Medication: Okay, Worthless, Dangerous or Other? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 31, 2016, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expired-allergy-medication-okay-worthless-dangerous-or-other/764607 "2016-08-31T22:03:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2016, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expired-allergy-medication-okay-worthless-dangerous-or-other/764607/1 "2016-08-31T22:03:09Z")
I’ve got this near full bottle of Allergy Tablets (diphenhydramine hydrochloride 25mg) that have an expiration date, we’ll say, _A while ago_. (about 5 years) Seems a shame to waste 'em, especially with all the weeds and smoke in the air this time of year. Still worth taking? Safe to still use? Are they just placebos at this point? Am I going to kill myself with them? I’ve always assumed the expiration dates on stuff like this was ignorable, but want to prod the deeper mind of The Dope. Whatcha all think? ---
**Author:** ![I\_wasn\_t\_truly\_absent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/4da419/32.png) [@I\_wasn\_t\_truly\_absent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_wasn_t_truly_absent)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2016, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expired-allergy-medication-okay-worthless-dangerous-or-other/764607/2 "2016-09-01T01:27:21Z")
go for it! I was a “bin it” person until one of those post apocalypse films where the people were constantly scavenging foodstuff from “before” made me think - a bit over the date might be ok? it was one of those you had to be there things , you’ll feel strangely closer to nature somehow, capable, no nonsense , able to harpoon fish and light fires,( I’m joking but it’s kinda true you should take one now, see what I mean !) ---
**Author:** ![tenacious\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/439d5e/32.png) [@tenacious\_j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tenacious_j)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2016, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expired-allergy-medication-okay-worthless-dangerous-or-other/764607/3 "2016-09-01T02:14:17Z")
I googled it and found one of those “ask a doc” sites which gave this rock-solid advice. It may be safe, but I don’t know for sure. If we were in the Zombie apocalypse and you had no other choice I would say go for it. But since generic diphenhydramine is cheap, why don’t you make a trip to your local store and buy some new. Source: HealthTap, [Would it be ok to take benadryl (diphenhydramine) that expired in 11/09? | HealthTap Online Doctor](https://www.healthtap.com/user_questions/1500458) I bought like 300 for less than $5 at Sam’s recently, so maybe get more tomorrow? ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2016, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expired-allergy-medication-okay-worthless-dangerous-or-other/764607/4 "2016-09-01T02:21:23Z")
Most likely, it would be subpotent and just wouldn’t work. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2016, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expired-allergy-medication-okay-worthless-dangerous-or-other/764607/5 "2016-09-01T03:21:58Z")
I’ve been taking them. Can’t really tell if they work or not. Unlike Beer. You _know_ it works. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2016, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expired-allergy-medication-okay-worthless-dangerous-or-other/764607/6 "2016-09-01T04:08:08Z")
I’d bet they’ve simply lost potency. Take two at a time. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2016, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expired-allergy-medication-okay-worthless-dangerous-or-other/764607/7 "2016-09-01T23:17:12Z")
Very likely they’re either fine (the expiration date is conservative) or simply will have less or no effect (the active ingredient has degraded). Small chance that they’ll actually harm you if they’re just pills. The things you most have to worry about are the liquid things that might actually culture mold or bacteria when whatever anti-bacterial or anti-mold thing in them breaks down.