Expired Rx - can they be harmful?

I have not had a psychiuatrist in years, but am trying to get myself to go. I have PTSD with borderline traits, panic disorder and many other dx.

I don't want to see a psychiatrist but also can't afford to now. So i really ramsacked the house looking for an anti anxiety med when i started getting reoccurring panic attacks and ptsd symptoms (they've been pretty dormant for a while).

There was a script for Valium, filled in 2012. I took a bunch (they are only 2 mg each), and it helped calm me down but i got a huge headache. the next day, i took several which made me have severe stomach pains. They may have been in my car in the heat for some time while i was moving.

Do you think it could be harmful to take expired prescriptions? it doesn't seem that old, but it didn't seem to have the same level of effectiveness. i had t take so many, and i don't have a tolerance built up since i haven't taken anti anxiety meds regularly. i also know valium isn't the best anti-panic med, but it's all i had. I guess i can take it and take something for the headache, but it seems like i have to take so much. the pills look discolored.

i cant even afford to see a psychiatrist so am avoiding but theres other reasons too. I've been working out at the gym but it doesn't stop the panic at this point. I also have samples of Zyprexa. Does that work for PTSD? i got an allergic reaction to it the first time i tried it, but it came on slowly so i can risk it again if i need it for a few days. thanks

It's not harmful, but may not be as effective.

I don't understand why not just call your local pharmacy and ask them ?
It cost nothing to ask , that is there job to answer questions about medcations .

Here is live chat you can ask them
https://www.riteaid.com/pharmacy/chat-with-a-pharmacist

A majority of drugs will lose their potency after a limited amount of time once they are actually opened. This is usually 1 year. Once any bottle of meds has been open they need to be stored in a dry, cool (but not cold) place. Only medicine that says too should be refrigerate . Never expose ANY prescriptions to prolonged or direct sunlight(that is why almost all RX bottles are amber). DO not mix sample drugs with the prescriptions unless the same Dr. and/or pharmacist have ran a DDI(drug to drug interaction) With all the new drugs flooding the market the adverse reactions can be lethal. Please be careful about saving old RX's and taking them months or years later especially with other newer ones.

Normally I would say that they would be ok after two years expired. Three pharmacist in the family will argue about that. BUT you say they are discolored and could have been exposed to heat and sunlight. I would throw them away in that case.

I don't want them to get suspicious, but probably worse, they seem to just give generalized answers. I wonder how many people actually ask them questions. I so miss my former pharmacy (in another state). This city is lame when it comes to pharmacists. It seems like they are most interested in liability, not patient care. : (

ps thanks for the link

Awesome advice. Are the drug interaction checkers online fairly accurate (in your experience)?

zinco, I asked my former psychiatrist about this years ago. He told me to ask the pharmacist but also said he thought the drug shelf life is longer than warned about, and that those limits are only a guideline.

My personal experience, they last long after the expiration date. The exception has been pain medication.

When stored in a cool, dry place Valium™ (diazepam) is usually good for at least 2 to 3 years after filling date. Of course this depends on how long the pharmacy has stored the bottle (i.e. the date when they bought the bottle). Diazepam is more resistant than most medications on exposure to heat, but that doesn't mean that prolonged heating won't degradate over the time.

Because you developed an upset stomach and headache I would suggest that you not take them again and have them disposed of by taking them to the pharmacy. I am not sure if the pharmacies in your state take back expired medication, but in my province we do. They are sent to a site to be burned in a controlled setting.

I am a psychiatric pharmacist and they do not decompose to a toxic compound, but they definitely will not be as effective after being exposed to light over the long term.

I hope that this is of some help. - Cam