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Wednesday, June 17, 2009 Gary asks

Q: Expired Prozak Can I use it?

Is it dangerous to use prozak that has expired by a couple of years? Has it greatly lost its effectiveness?

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Answers (1)
6/17/09 3:38pm

Hi Gary

 

Do you currently have a prescription for Prozac?  Or is this just a bottle you found in the back of your medicine cabinet?  And why are you wishing to take expired Prozac?

 

I am not a doctor but I wouldn't advise taking these old pills.  The instructions on most pills is to discard them after the expiration date.  I imagine they begin to lose their potency and you also can't be sure of side effects.  You could call your doctor or pharmacist to ask this question but I am sure they will tell you the same thing. 

 

You need to be under a doctor's care to start up an antidepressant.  And if you have any hope of it working...it should not be from an expired bottle!

 

Don't take the expired medicine.  Throw it away.  Get an appointment and get a new prescription for an antidepressant if you want to start taking them.

 

Thank you for your question.

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