Does Adderall Expire?
Like food and drinks, medications also have an expiration date. In 1973, the FDA began requiring all manufacturers of medication to provide an expiration of the expected shelf life date. In general, medications have two different expiration dates. The first expiration date is set by the drug maker, which is about 2-3 years from the date of manufacture. The second date is one set by pharmaceuticals, which is one year from which the medication has been prescribed to the patient. Pharmacists are usually limited to the expiration of one year because of the unpredictable storage conditions in which a person will store their medications. In addition, patients should also be re-evaluated for their condition after a year.
Expiration dates are not just assigned to prescription medications, they are also required for vitamins, over-the-counter medications, dietary supplements, and herbal supplements.
Drug manufacturing companies are required to submit stability testing data to the FDA showing how long their medications can be sustained under ideal conditions. It shows that testing has been done, how long the medication is stable and effective, and helps pharmacies and drug dispensaries know when to discard old medication to ensure patient safety. Drugs like Adderall have an expiration date in which people are discouraged from continuing use once past this date. This is because the drugs could lose effectiveness and would no longer be able to treat conditions such as ADHD.
How to keep medications from quickly deteriorating?
Both manufacturers and pharmacists recommend storing your medications in a cool, dark and dry place. These are the ideal conditions in which medication will be the most stable and maintain efficiency. However, this is not how most people store their medications. We often find drugs, vitamins and supplements being stored in medicine cabinets in the bathroom. The bathroom is a warm and damp environment.
When a medication has expired, the active ingredient in the medication can physically deteriorate as well as chemically deteriorate. Physical deterioration includes pill discoloration or even a strange smell. Chemical deterioration is when the chemical compounds in the medication have changed and might even become toxic if ingested.
Solid forms of medications such as pills and capsules are generally more shelf-stable medications. Liquid medications tend to expire and deteriorate much more quickly due to the risk of bacterial growth in the liquid.
Some examples of ideal storage of medications include a dark cabinet not located under a heat source, a dresser drawer, a closet shelf and a storage or medication lockbox. Proper storage of medications can help to prolong the potency and life expectancy of a prescription drug. If you notice anything physically odd, strange or wrong about the medication, you should refrain from taking it and dispose of it right away.
Does Adderall Expire?
Adderall is a prescription medication used to treat symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. It is a central nervous system stimulant drug that works by increasing brain activity of certain chemicals in the brain. Adderall can only be taken and obtained with a prescription due to its risk of dependence, tolerance and addiction to the drug.
Adderall has an expiration date. It is generally 2-3 years from the date of production. It is important for Adderall to be taken at full potency, in order to treat patients correctly and effectively. If someone is taking Adderall which has become less potent, it could lead to less effectiveness of the medication. When users feel they are not getting the full effects, they begin to take more of the medication against the general recommended dose. This could lead to overdosing and the buildup of toxins from Adderall because the first dosage has not been processed fast enough before another dose has been taken.
Studies have found that if Adderall is stored safely in a cool and dry place, it can actually go years and even decades without showing any signs of wear or deterioration. Deterioration of medication can include, warping of capsules, growing mold due to damp conditions and discoloration of tablets. Physical signs are not the only ways a medication can deteriorate or expire. When a medication is no longer effective or stable, the medication’s chemical structure also changes.
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How accurate are expiration dates?
So how accurate are expiration dates? Do drugs, medications and supplements really lose all potency after the date of expiration? There have been many studies and research on this area of question. In a study from the FDA of about 100 different types of medications, about 90% of the drugs were able to retain their potency beyond the expiration date. Some studies even show that drug efficacy can last over a 15 year period when stored per the recommendation of a cool, dark and dry place.
When medication is made, it is tested and certified for anywhere from 12-60 months for potency and efficacy. Each drug has a different testing criteria and standard. According to the U.S. Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, it is officially recommended to dispose of drugs that are past their expiration date. Many believe this to be wasteful because the research suggests most medications are still effective past their set expiration dates.
The biggest harm in taking medications past their expiration date is the potency and efficacy of the drug in treating its intended conditions. In general, the potency of a drug does degrade over time. However, studies are finding the majority of active ingredients in medication are still effective several years after expiration. Most medications are not harmful after expiration. However, the side effects have not been studied enough and are still unpredictable. The only known harmful drug is the antibiotic tetracycline, which is known to be dangerous if taken after the expiration date.
Common medications with strict expiration dates
- Diabetes medications like insulin break down quickly after the expiration date. This makes it less effective and can even lead to the development of high blood sugar levels if taken.
- EpiPen medications are normally used to treat life-threatening allergic reactions. When it has expired, the formulation can break down quickly and might not be effective at stopping an allergic reaction. This could be deadly.
- Any type of liquid or oral antibiotics, which are prescribed to treat bacterial infections are at high risk of being contaminated after the expiration date. The contamination can make a person even sicker and completely fail to treat the existing condition.
- Other medications that require a precise dosage to treat specific diseases should also not be taken past their expiration date. Medications such as inhalers, blood thinners, seizure medications and thyroid medications.
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There is no exact science for testing when a medication could lose its potency and stability. Taking an expired drug could either do nothing or could cause negative reactions. When it comes to Adderall, taking it after the expiration date isn’t completely harmful. However, it could make the medication less effective and therefore users find the need to take more medication to experience the same relief. When more medication is taken, it can lead to a higher tolerance, dependence, or an overdose. Substance abuse can be treated through effective behavioral health programs such as Hotel California by the Sea.
We offer varying levels of care including medical detox, inpatient residential, PHP and IOP. We also utilize evidence-based treatment methods such as CBT, DBT and family therapy. By addressing both the physical and psychological aspects of addiction, patients will have a greater chance of recovery and achieving sobriety.
References:
https://www.donefirst.com/blog/does-adderall-expire
https://prescriptionhope.com/blog-does-adderall-expire/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7040264/
https://www.healthdigest.com/850692/does-adderall-expire/
https://www.goodrx.com/drugs/safety/expired-medications
https://www.health.com/take-medication-past-expiration-date-8330726