Expired vitamins

[jrichards]

Hi -

Can someone tell me if it's OK to use expired vitamins (some expired in 05)! If so, do they still have their same potency?

Thanks.

Jennifer

[wallycat]

There is really no way to know "for sure" but most things have years longer than the actual expiration date printed.
I think the military did a study on their meds that they stock pile and found they were still good after almost 10 years or some such number...

[blazedog]

Since there is no way of knowing whether potency remains, I personally would spring for a new bottle of vitamins -- They are inexpensive.

The only medication which I have ever taken after the expiration date is painkillers from my dentist since the sole reason for taking them is to alleviate pain -- and the pain will either be alleviated or not.:D

[funnybone]

I always throw expired vitamins away. When I buy them, they probably have a two year shelf life. I hate the taste of vitamins, so I don't take them daily, unfortuantely. If it has been two years since expiry, I figure it would be another two years before I finish them. No point keeping them, IMHO.