Can You Take Expired Antibiotics?
Medically reviewed by Linda Girgis | MD, Girgis Family Medicine on August 20th, 2026.
No, you should not take expired antibiotics as they can be ineffective and potentially harmful. The FDA confirms that antibiotic potency decreases significantly after expiration dates, with studies showing efficacy can drop by 20-50% within 1-2 years. Expired antibiotics may fail to treat infections properly, leading to prolonged illness or antibiotic resistance. Additionally, some antibiotics like tetracycline can become toxic when expired, potentially causing kidney damage. Taking ineffective antibiotics also contributes to the growing problem of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which affects over 2.8 million Americans annually according to the CDC.
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