How long should you keep a prescription for pain pills?

7 Dec 2010

Most prescription vials will have an expiration date on it. Often it is one year or less from when you have the prescription filled. This is because the manufacturer dating on the pharmacy´s stock bottle only applies to their sealed container. Once the stock container is opened, potency is usually guaranteed for one year or less. If you don´t see an expiration date on your bottle ask the pharmacist for it. If a medication begins to have an odor or tastes funny, have the pharmacist look at it for you. I copied this from google, but I have taken a medication that was 2 yrs after the fill date & seemed to be still effective. I guess different meds may be different, but I believe they can lose their potency after a year. I hope this was helpful to you.

8 Dec 2010

Ive taken Lortabs that were over 3 or 4 years old and they worked fine. They just lose a little potency over time but even at that age, I still didnt notice much difference. A lot of it depends how they are kept though. If they are in your car, they wont last long at all. If they just sit in a dark cabinet, they will last much longer.

8 Dec 2010

I would definately throw them away. Usually most meds only last 6months to 1 year depending on the drug. If this one is from 2007 it is most likely no good and taking it may make your daughter sick. Please advize her again to throw them away properly ASAP. Hope this has reassured you, marjorie zych