I am not a doctor, however  i can say that when a drug does expire, it USUALLY means it could have lost its oomph, in other words, might not be as effective as it was before it expired. I suggest IF you still have the original bottle with your name on it with the pills in it, BRING IT BACK TO YOUR DOCTOR and show him or her that you still have them, stopped taking them because (what ever your reason) that will show your Dr. that your not just out to get something to make you high, if that were the case, you would not still have pills left over. I believe he/she will write you a new script IF your doctor did not not discontinue you taking them, they might have been given to you for a short time use for another reason (tooth) and now your back hurts and you want to take something for the pain and you remembered how well the hydrocodone worked, your best bet is to be honest with the Doctor, and yourself, and you will be fine... again,,, the expiratation basicly means that the potency in THIS DRUG might not be there anymore,, PLEASE DO NOT TAKE TWO ,, TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR.................................. good luck.. Linda