How long do prescription meds "last"?

[VictoriaL]

I have a bottle of vicodin that was prescribed to me 4 years ago for the same tendinitis problem that I have now. It's unbearable, I've tried everything possible to cut the pain in my shoulder/arm to get some sleep, and nothing works for more than a couple of hours. It's bad enough that I made a dr appointment, but it's not for 10 more days. I need sleep! Would it do something awful to me to try the vicodin tonight? I've really run out of options. TIA.

ps- there is no expiration date on the bottle...

[wallycat]

The army (??)--some govt. office did a massive study on expiration dates and efficacy. Most "expired" drugs were still effective.
I'd be nervous if it were an antibiotic, but knowing me....I'd probably not give this a second thought.
WARNING: I am not a doctor or pharmacist and am brave on some things :o

[Terri_A]

Most prescriptions drugs are good well beyond the expiration dates. So, I would guess that although it is probably expired it should not harm you in any way. The biggest risk is just that it wouldn't work.

I hope for your sake you get a good night's sleep and that the pain subsides some!

[VictoriaL]

Thanks, guys. I looked at the pills and they aren't discolored or crumbly so I may give it a try. Lately I've been seeing hours of the morning that I haven't seen since my college-party days... and this time around it not nearly as fun, either... :rolleyes:

[tbb113]

FYI - 4 ibuprofin (Advil, etc) is equal to 1 prescription strength Motrin. If you aren't getting relief from the vicodin...you might try 4 Advil

[VictoriaL]

FYI - 4 ibuprofin (Advil, etc) is equal to 1 prescription strength Motrin. If you aren't getting relief from the vicodin...you might try 4 Advil

Thanks for the info. I've tried 3 ibuprofen but didn't know if I could go any higher. Maybe I'll try this instead of the vicodin tonight.
crossing my fingers with hope.... :o

[tbb113]

Vicci - when I get tendonitis, I've been told to take the motrin for 5 days straight (3 times a day). It usually stops hurting after a day or so. Warning: motrin can cause stomach problems if taken in large doses for a long time. Fortunately for me...it is short term stomach problems and it was after a month of motrin

[VictoriaL]

Vicci - when I get tendonitis, I've been told to take the motrin for 5 days straight (3 times a day). It usually stops hurting after a day or so. Warning: motrin can cause stomach problems if taken in large doses for a long time. Fortunately for me...it is short term stomach problems and it was after a month of motrin


Well, fortunately I have to make it for only 10 more days! I've had this problem for about 3 months, but just in the past 2 weeks it has flared up and the last 4 or 5 days have been perfectly horrible. I wonder if I eat some yogurt before taking the ibuprofen it would be "easier" on my stomach?

[tbb113]

I don't know...it causes ulcer type problems for me...so maybe an antacid?

[VictoriaL]

I haven't ever had an ulcer, so maybe just a glass of milk to be on the safe side? Thanks for everything. I'm going to bed soon and am hopeful ...

[tbb113]

Hope it works for you! Try it for a couple of days, the effects are cummulative since the advil helps reduce the swelling

[Gumbeaux]

I would use a pain killer that is past the expiration date. What do you have to loose? If it doesn't work, you haven't risked anything.

I wouldn't use long expired prescriptions if they are used to treat critical illness such as high blood pressure, heart disease, etc.

[mbrogier]

I recently had bursitis in my hip. My doctor had me taking 4 ibuprofen twice a day. He said take it with a meal or heavy snack to protect the stomach. I had it around the time that my ovarian cyst ruptured and had to be removed in March. The narcotics helped more than the ibuprofen did, and I had to stop the ibuprofen prior to surgery. (thins blood)

I'd take the vicodin as well as the ibuprofen. The medicines work differently--the ibuprofen reduces swelling and the vicodin just makes you not care that it hurts. My doctor let me take them together. Just don't take tylenol and vicodin together because vicodin already has tylenol. The vicodin might have lost a bit of its effectiveness from age, but I'd take it. I don't think it would be dangerous.

[hollysmom]

When I broke my fibula at Spring Break - I was originally on just Vicodin, but the 2nd orthopod that I saw gave me an anti-inflammatory (like ibuprofen, only stronger) in addition. He said that sometimes patients are not given the anti-inflammatory in addition to the pain relief and that's how nice people get hooked on Vicodin believing that it will give them complete relief. Of course this was after we found that Percodan makes me feel too queasy for comfort.

A steady stream of isoprofen with Vicodin at night should do the trick.

SSM

[honeygirl1971]

The army (??)--some govt. office did a massive study on expiration dates and efficacy. Most "expired" drugs were still effective.
I'd be nervous if it were an antibiotic, but knowing me....I'd probably not give this a second thought.
WARNING: I am not a doctor or pharmacist and am brave on some things :o

I have read that expired tetracycline is VERY DANGEROUS, and can cause major kidney damage FWIW. I found this article online about expired meds--you have to scroll down a bit but the article is called "Using Expired Medications: A Murky Issue." http://www.nhchc.org/Network/HealingHands/1998/hh.11_98.pdf
From what I read, it sounds like your vicodin might not be as potent, but it shouldn't cause any harm. But, like wallycat, I am not a doc or pharmacist so this is just a guess!

[VictoriaL]

From someone who absolutely requires her 7 hours per night (or it's "Crabby City"), I got 4-1/2 hours to uninterrupted sleep last night and it was wonderful!!!! I'm taking the ibuprofen today,as well, and DH has already commented on my good mood ( :o ). So I think that I will try adding the vicodin in the mix tonight, just to see if I can reach that next level of sleep.

Thanks so much for all of you advice everyone. I'm can't wait till this darn problem is over!

[LakeMartinGal]

If you have Aleve, 5 per day is a Dr's dose, according to my orthopedic surgeon, and may be easier on the stomach.. FWIW, when I take mega-doses of aleve or other nsaids, I take the same number of OTC Zantac 75, and that keeps the stomach problems at bay. I have been taking 2-5 Aleve for several years, and have only let the stomach get to me once, and just doubled up (briefly) on Zantac. (Ranitidine is the generic). Hope that helps -- tendonitis is awful!

[mbrogier]

If you have Aleve, 5 per day is a Dr's dose, according to my orthopedic surgeon, and may be easier on the stomach.. FWIW, when I take mega-doses of aleve or other nsaids, I take the same number of OTC Zantac 75, and that keeps the stomach problems at bay. I have been taking 2-5 Aleve for several years, and have only let the stomach get to me once, and just doubled up (briefly) on Zantac. (Ranitidine is the generic). Hope that helps -- tendonitis is awful!

Aleve is a good choice. I can't take it because it makes me nauseated. I think that might be better on your stomach. The zantac would help as well.

I'm glad you got some sleep!

[Aubergine]

opinions and info on this vary greatly, in my experience. personally, i am willing to trust most meds a year-2 (at most) beyond their exp. date. otoh, i've seen this discussed elsewhere, and some chemical compounds are stable for a great many years. (but if they told us that, we wouldn't toss them and buy more...)

unless one is a chemist, or has a trustworthy friend/family member who is, i would err on the side of caution. it's like food exp. dates--many are gov't guidelines established many years ago. a trustworthy older doc is another good source. the one group of persons i would not trust is pharmacists, for a great many reasons.

by now we all know how reliable the FDA is---not.

[VictoriaL]

I've never had stomach problems, so I decided to continue with the ibuprofen (taken with milk or yogurt) until I see my Dr. next (*sigh*) Monday. I also used the vicodin last night and got a full 7 hours' sleep with no waking up (except once when the cat flopped over onto my leg) and when I did wake up my arm wasn't throbbing. I almost cried, I was so happy!

I do not like taking meds, or going to doctors, and have been dealing with this in other ways over the past 3 months (homeopathic remedies, ointments, stretching, applications of ice and heat, etc.) but it has become apparent that I need to see a doctor. I had this same problem almost 5 years ago and am royally pi**ed at my body for allowing this to happen again. I mean, I take care of myself. I exercise, I eat very well, so what's the problem? Why does my body hate me?

okay, rant over :o just feeling sorry for myself...

Thanks for all of the advice!

[tbb113]

Vicci - glad that the advil and vicodin worked. Hopefully you will keep getting better :) Sleep is a good thing :D

[mbrogier]

I do not like taking meds, or going to doctors, and have been dealing with this in other ways over the past 3 months (homeopathic remedies, ointments, stretching, applications of ice and heat, etc.) but it has become apparent that I need to see a doctor. I had this same problem almost 5 years ago and am royally pi**ed at my body for allowing this to happen again. I mean, I take care of myself. I exercise, I eat very well, so what's the problem? Why does my body hate me?



Tendonitis is a stress injury. You're doing something to aggravate that area. It won't get better until you figure out how to keep from reinjuring the joint constantly. Usually if it's from sports after treating you, the doctor will recommend a brace of some sort. I had tendonitis in my elbow from tennis.

[doggerham]

Vicci,

FWIW I had a leftover prescription for vicodin from my foot surgery in 2003, which I used when I broke my arm last September (before I went to the doc and realized the bone was actually broken). Worked fine.

And, I've also kept my mother's bottle of vicodin after she passed away -- just as a backup. Its the lesser strength than I had for my arm (she was tiny), and it comes in handy when my arm gets to aching from overuse.

A

[mbrogier]

I'm currently on Vicodin because of my pancreatic trouble. My bottle that I filled over the weekend has an expiration of 6/01/07. My pharmacy always expires things out one year later. :rolleyes: My doctor has given me migraine rescue med samples that were expired by two months. He checked to make sure they weren't toxic and said they would just be 10% less effective. They worked fine and were free. :D

If I were in your case, Vicci, I would have taken those pills, too.

[VictoriaL]

Tendonitis is a stress injury. You're doing something to aggravate that area. It won't get better until you figure out how to keep from reinjuring the joint constantly.

Ah, if I could only figure this one out! Apparently there are calcium deposits in my rotator cuff which are causing the tendonitis. And the final phase, when the deposits are being reabsorbed, is (as one site described it) "excruciatingly painful". I agree. :( When I had this 4-1/2 years ago, I wasn't told that it could recur (and this was before I was on the internet, so I only knew what my dr told me). From everything I am reading this time, it does often recur, and no one is certain what does it. A stress injury or repetitive motion are most likely, but it could be anything. I don't over-use my shoulder (eg. playing tennis often) and I haven't fallen in it, either. And I exercise with weights, but just to keep toned.

But at least I'm sleeping a lot better now, and it's only 6 days until I see the dr. I think that x-rays should show something. I cut a corner close and rammed my (bad) arm backward on Sunday, and I actually heard (and felt) something like a "crinkling". I can't describe the pain. I was on the floor for ten miuntes before I could drag myself to the freezer for an ice pack. DH thinks that the crinkling was the calcium deposits breaking up and I should be better in a couple of more days. :rolleyes:

[mbrogier]

I get swollen joints from my fibromyalgia (not the same as tendonitis but still irritating). I do better sleeping with my arms out straight. You might try that.

I've heard of reasons why these calcium deposits form. I think it might have something to do with too much protein processed by the kidneys. I'm not a doctor, so I can't explain it. I might also be remembering this wrong. I think you're husband is right as to why your arm is hurting so bad now. I think perhaps you did crush those deposits. I would want to know if there was anything I could eat/drink to help dissolve them or something.


(((Vicci))) I'm glad you've gotten some sleep. I hope the doctor can help you.

[Aubergine]

I've heard of reasons why these calcium deposits form. I think it might have something to do with too much protein processed by the kidneys.
(((Vicci)))

there is something to that point in general, b/c when my dad was having kidney troubles (and/or some others) he was put on an almost zero-protein diet (which i had a hard time grasping). i'm sure it can easily be googled.

[BarbaraL]

I'd ask my pharmacist about the expiration date. I doubt a health care professional would advise you to take expired medication (ethical considerations). However, some medications might break down into harmful by-products, and a pharmacist could probably tell you if your expirated medication is less effective/no longer effective vs. potentially harmful.