Medicines have expiry dates so you know when to use them by. After the expiry date medicines may not be safe or as effective.
You should not take medicines after their expiry date. If you've had a medicine for a while, check the expiry date before using it.
You should also make sure that you've stored the medicine properly, as described on the packaging or leaflet.
If your medicine looks, tastes or smells different to when you first got it, even if it's within the expiry date, take it to your pharmacist for advice.
Where is the expiry date?
You can find the expiry date on the medicine packaging or on the label. This may say:
- expiry
- expiry date
- expires
- exp
- exp date
- use by
- use before
Expiry dates are put on medicines by:
- the manufacturer that produces the medicine
- the pharmacist who supplies the medicine
What does the "expiry date" mean?
The expiry date usually means that you should not take the medicine after the end of the month given.
For example, if the expiry date is July 2024, you should not take the medicine after 31 July 2024.
What does the "use by date" mean?
If your medicine has a use by or use before date instead of an expiry date, this usually means that you should not take the medicine after the end of the previous month.
For example, if the use by date is July 2024, you should not take the medicine after 30 June 2024.
If a doctor or pharmacist has given you any other instructions about using or disposing of your medicine, you should also follow these.
For example, your pharmacist may label a medicine: "discard 7 days after opening".
You should bring any medicine that's left after this time back to your pharmacist to dispose of, even if it's within the manufacturer's expiry date.
Short expiry dates
Some medicines are given a short expiry date, such as:
- prepared antibiotic mixtures: when the pharmacist adds water to powdered antibiotic, it changes the stability of the product, and the pharmacist will give it an expiry date of 1 or 2 weeks, depending on the product
- eyedrops: these are usually given an expiry date of 4 weeks after first opening the container, because your eyes are particularly sensitive to any bacteria that might get into the eyedrops
How can I dispose of expired medicine?
If you have medicines that have passed their expiry date, take them to your pharmacist, who can dispose of them safely for you.
You should never throw unused or expired medicines in the rubbish bin or flush them down the toilet.