Does Benadryl Expire? Benadryl does not necessarily expire but it loses its potency after 2-3 years. An unopened Benadryl stored in a cool and dark place in a dry region such as the Southwest is likely to remain effective for years after the expiration date has passed. Some studies have shown that Benadryl could last more than 10 years.
If the medication is stored away from heat, in dry environment, it should retain its full efficacy for up to one year in the case of pills and six months in the case of liquids and suspensions. I was also informed by a chemist that you can use these medications up to 3-5 years after they have expired without experiencing any negative side effects other than a slight decrease in efficacy, which is not hazardous.
Taking expired Benadryl is a possibly risky course of action to take. True, in this particular instance, expired Benadryl may be literally ineffective than it would be dangerous, but it is not always harmful. However, not all medications adhere to this criterion. It is possible that you could end up poisoned and lose both of your kidneys if you were to consume expired tetracycline, to name just one example.
Always, and I repeat, always double-check with your pharmacist before making that decision to take medication that is beyond its shelf life.
Essentially, Benadryl pills do expire if they are not stored in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
Shelf life of Benadryl Spray
Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) spray has a shorter shelf life and loses its efficacy more quickly than pills. However, this is the liquid formula for topical application, which is prepared in a completely different manner from the pills and liquid for oral administration.
Can You Take Expired Benadryl?
You can take expired Benadryl but it will not be effective. The drug is not dangerous and it is not always harmful. It is never a good idea to take prescription medications such as Benadryl that have expired (past the manufacturer expiration date) because of unknown toxicities.
Currently, there are no potential risks for taking expired Benadryl.
The primary risk is that they may not have the same level of potency or effectiveness as they did when they were released to the market right after manufacture.
While it may be tempting to take expired Benadryl, you just don’t know whether or not it is still effective, and there isn’t a foolproof way to determine this for certain. When faced with a potentially life-threatening circumstance, having access to effective medication is critical.
If you required Benadryl to treat an allergic response, it would be wise to keep a bottle on hand that was up to date so that you could be confident that you were getting an effective dose.
Is it Safe to Take Expired Benadryl?
It is generally safe to take expired Benadryl. Potency tests on expired Benadryl have found that it will not make you sick if you take it as directed. However, if it has been several years since the expiration date, it is possible that you will be receiving less of the active component. Even if you are an extremely large individual who is taking the medication to assist prevent an anaphylactic reaction, the majority of people would receive enough active medication to overcome airborne allergens.
What are the effects of taking expired Benadryl? There are no negative effects. However, because there is no longer adequate active substances in them, they lose their effectiveness and are unlikely to alleviate the condition you are experiencing.
Should You Throw Away Expired Benadryl?
Yes, you should throw away expired Benadryl. Still, using Benadryl after its expiration date is unlikely to cause harm (from the drug itself). There have been no reports of expired Benadryl causing injury, and there is no evidence that it degrades into potentially dangerous components when exposed to light.
However, and this is a critical issue, it is possible that it is no longer as effective as it once was.
The use of Benadryl for the treatment of allergic reactions is growing fast. It is important to get an “in-date” product to ensure that the medication has the potency specified and will function as intended for you.