Is it dangerous to take Doxycycline after its been expired?

Question

I would like someone who has knowledge of medicine to answer this please.

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

Throw away any unused doxycycline when it expires or when it is no longer needed. Do not take any doxycycline after the expiration date printed on the bottle. Expired doxycycline can cause a dangerous syndrome resulting in damage to the kidneys.

Answer 2

The problem with taking any medication beyond the expiration date is that it degrades over time and becomes less effective. It is dangerous if you are taking the medication for a given condition and require the full potency of the medication.

Shelf life (expiration date) is there for a reason. Heed it.

ANATOMY/PHYSIOLOGY TEACHER
BIOCHEMISTRY TEACHER

Answer 3

The danger in using an expired antibiotic would probably not come from the product, but by the ineffectiveness it would have in fighting off the infection it was prescribed for treatment. This sounds as if you or a friend has some "old" Doxy lying around and would just assume use it rather than getting a new prescription filled. The problem with an expired Rx is that it will have lost some of its potency over time. Using the expired Rx could cause issues with microbial resistance amongst the bacteria inside your body, and eventually leading to having to take an even stronger (and more expensive) antibiotic to get a hold on the infection. It's just safer to use a new, or very recently filled Rx instead.

Source(s):

My source would be many semesters of courses on Microbiology, Immunology, Biochemistry, and Pharmacology in medical school.

Answer 4

It is better never to take any expired medications; some of them can be ineffective and some of them can be poisonous.