Step1
Research the medication that you take so that you are knowledgeable on what happens to it once it reaches the expiration date. Be sure you learn the hazards associated with your medication before you even consider taking it after it has expired. Nitroglycerin tablets and Epinephrine, among others, can lead to death if taken after expired.
Step2
Know what your medication looks like. If considering taking expired medication, look at it first to see if there are any changes in the appearance. If the color has faded, or it looks like it has absorbed moisture, do not take it. However, not all medications change in appearance when they have gone bad, so this is not always a reliable assessment.
Step3
Use common sense when it comes to expired medication. If your medication is only a couple of days past the expiration date, chances are better that it could still be good. If the medication you are considering taking is months, or years, past expiration, it is not worth the risk of taking it.
Step4
Call the pharmacist and tell them the name of the medication and the expiration date printed on the bottle or package. Ask him if it is safe to take the medication.
Step5
Talk to your doctor before taking expired medication. She should also be able to tell you the risks associated with your particular medication.
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