Safe to take expired Hydrocodone/Acetaminophen?

Expiration dates are ambiguous it may just lower the efficacy’s drug but will cause no harm.
At the worst it won’t work as long as the tablet is intact and not fraying you can use it.
Some shelf lives can go 3-5 years.

If pills are in a gel cap or any kind of liquid form, use by expiration date. If in pill form, they do not expire. That's right, they're good indefinitely. I've been told this by several doctors, pharmacists, and someone who owns a big pharma company. Good luck getting any of them to actually admit that. lol If they do they usually say they'll lose strength. They do not. I personally have taken pills that are a decade old. They worked just fine and strength was the same. They should be stored in a cool dry place, but even if they weren't--they're not going to hurt you.

Having checked extensively online it appears that most expired meds simply are less effacious. I missed the pharmacy closing time this evening and was unable to pick up my prescription for Hydrocodone/acetaminophen. Had a half a bottle of Percocet, same strength but two years past expiry date. Called my surgeon's office they said no problem I could take them. I have had no ill effects but must stress that they have definitely lost their strength, Pretty useless at reducing my post surgery pain. Intend to take two every six hours now untill I get my new prescription.

I just read elsewhere on this site that it was found that some drugs are shown to be therapeutic for 12 to 66 months past the expiration date. Basically the expiration date is the date that manufacturers guarantee full potency. It sounds like you did everything right except the possibility of humidity issues. I keep all my prescriptions except for what I have packed for the wheel in a portable safe in my closet that way I don't have to worry about my god children getting into them while they are visiting.

The answer is: It's never safe to take pain medication that has expired or effected by unsuitable storage conditions and/or that has experienced exposure to elements surrounding the medication's found location and was not properly sealed or protected.

But if it has been properly stored in the proper container in a consistent environment, and is PRESCRIBED FOR YOU SPECIFICALLY* or has been, shall it be taken in it's directed dose or your known dosage.

*To avoid allergic reactions or risk of negative side effects to the medication.

I have been taking expired meds for years and years. I've been taking baclofen dated 2005 for the past 3 days. It seems to work. I think expiration dates are just precautionary. If the meds are stored in a relatively dry, cool place, I think they're fine. My girlfriend is a nurse, and she thinks that expired meds can cause liver damage. But I haven't read anything about that in my research.

The correct answer is always no, however if you're in a bad situation and that's all you can get, you'll probably be ok.

I have taken pain pills that were that old which worked fine, but the humidity is a problem to the potency of pills. So like the others said, the pills may not have the same potency, but don't take more than the allotted dose to compensate for that since you don't know how much the efficiency of the pills has occurred.

Never store any medications in a humid place. Good luck.

May not be as potent, but will be safe. In the future try not storing medications in the bathroom as the humidity can ruin them. Good luck!

They may be a bit less potent, but safe. I have the same situation, with all that's going on these days with pain meds and Drs, if I din't have expired meds, I wouldn't have any. Hope this helps.