Can you take an expired prescription?

[jammer]

Reason I ask, I have a friend with Wellbutrin and it expired 12/06. I want to quit smoking and she said these helped her. I don't have the money (and no health insurance) to go to the doctor and for the prescription. At least I don't right this second, it'll be a couple of months. What does it mean when it says expired? Is it bad or are the chemicals not active anymore?

 

[~Jessie~]

The bottles of meds in the pharmacy are good for up to a year after the expiration date. However, when you have your prescription filled, the label automatically says it expires a year from the fill date. So I wouldn't take it if it expired in December.

Once a medicine is expired, the medication is less potent.

I wouldn't recommend taking someone else's prescription... I would get a doctor's opinion first, as Wellbutrin may not be right for you. Your doctor will be able to discuss if it is a good option.

Just my two cents.

 

[ACooper]

^^good advice Jessie

 

[~Jessie~]

Thanks! I used to work in a pharmacy a couple of years ago. Once something expired according to the bottle, we had to throw it away since it would be less than a year from it actually being expired.

 

[Denaluvscorgis]

What Jessie said!