# Lexapro Expiration **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 25, 2009, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lexapro-expiration/482900 "2009-01-25T07:19:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lexapro-expiration/482900/1 "2009-01-25T07:19:04Z")
I need to start taking Lexapro again. I have quite a number of 10 mg pills left from when I quit taking them. They were dispensed 11/21/07. Are they still effective? Obviously, I need to see my Dr. again, but I would really like to start taking them again tomorrow. Would they be ineffective/useless or might they still be good? ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lexapro-expiration/482900/2 "2009-01-25T07:43:06Z")
This is probably too specific a medical question, isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lexapro-expiration/482900/3 "2009-01-25T17:00:10Z")
I used to work for a psychiatrist, and he said that drug samples were perfectly fine to give out for up to one year past the labeled expiration date, and probably still safe & effective much longer, but he didn’t want to push it past that. OTOH, you have no way to know what the expiration date was on those pills. A pharmacy wouldn’t sell you pills that were past the expiration date, but they’re assuming you will consume the pills in a month or so, so it could _possibly_ be that those pills were dated for, say, January 08. So you could be close to a year over on them. OT3H, what kind of storage conditions have you kept the bottle? Cooler is better than hotter. My suggestion: call your prescriber. S/he might be willing to write you a one month script so you can start taking the pills while waiting for an appointment. ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lexapro-expiration/482900/4 "2009-01-25T19:03:48Z")
I talked to a pharmacist and she said that they probably would not be very effective and not to take them. Anyway, I’ve left a message for my doctor and she will likely phone in a prescription without having me come into the office. The meds have been stored in the dark in their original container and were originally dispensed 11/21/07. Is it even worth trying? A little placebo effect could go a long way! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lexapro-expiration/482900/5 "2009-01-25T19:30:05Z")
My MD has told me that virtually any sealed medication except nitroglycerin pills do not really age at all. But I would strongly caution you to talk to your own doctor and not act on any advice over a message board. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lexapro-expiration/482900/6 "2009-01-26T03:17:30Z")
Not just nitro. Tetracycline goes toxic, IIRC. But I don’t know if they’ve done any studies on degradation of SSRI’s. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lexapro-expiration/482900/7 "2009-01-26T04:14:22Z")
[Chances are they’re still good.](http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/59466.php) IANAD, take expired medication at your own risk, this post does not reflect the views of the Chicago Reader or anyone worth suing, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lexapro-expiration/482900/8 "2009-01-26T04:25:22Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#): > > But I would strongly caution you to talk to your own doctor and not act on any advice over a message board. Me too. I’m going to close this. Colibri General Questions Moderator