Taking expired medications can be risky. Lorazepam, commonly known by the brand name Ativan, is a benzodiazepine medication used to treat anxiety, insomnia, and other conditions. It acts on the brain and central nervous system to produce a calming effect. While taking expired lorazepam may not necessarily be harmful in every case, it does carry potential risks. Understanding these risks can help you make an informed decision if you have expired lorazepam in your possession.
Does expired lorazepam lose potency?
Yes, lorazepam can lose potency after its expiration date has passed. The expiration date is the final day that the manufacturer guarantees the full potency and safety of the medication. After this date, lorazepam may start to slowly break down. This means an expired pill may have less of the active medication in it than intended.
How quickly lorazepam breaks down depends on how it was stored. Heat, humidity, and exposure to light can accelerate the breakdown process. If stored properly in a cool, dry place, lorazepam may still maintain much of its potency for some time after expiration.
The potency loss is gradual. An lorazepam pill that expired a month or two ago may not have degraded very much. But one that expired years ago likely has a greater loss of potency and more variability in the amount of active drug remaining.
Can expired lorazepam be unsafe?
There are a few ways in which expired lorazepam could potentially be unsafe:
- Reduced effectiveness – Because of potency loss, an expired pill may not work as well as a fresh one. This means it may not adequately relieve anxiety or insomnia.
- Inconsistent dosage – The amount of active drug remaining may vary considerably from one expired pill to the next. This makes it hard to predict the strength of each dose.
- Bacterial contamination – Very old expired pills are at greater risk for bacterial contamination if they were not stored properly. This contamination could lead to infections.
- Toxic by-products – The breakdown of lorazepam over time can produce unknown chemical by-products. Some by-products may be toxic.
These risks are generally small with pills that exceeded their expiration date by only a modest amount. The risks increase if the medication is very old or was improperly stored.
What side effects might occur?
The most likely side effect of taking expired lorazepam is that it will not work as expected. With reduced effectiveness, you might continue feeling symptoms of anxiety, insomnia, seizures, or other conditions that lorazepam is used to treat.
Other possible side effects include:
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Weakness
- Unsteadiness
- Headache
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Amnesia
These are commonly reported side effects from normal doses of non-expired lorazepam. But they may be more likely to occur if you take very high doses of expired medication with variable potency. The impairment of motor functions, like weakness and unsteadiness, can also increase risks of accidents and falls.
Rarely, allergic reactions may occur if the expired medication contains contaminants or breakdown products you are sensitive to.
Can I take expired lorazepam if my symptoms are severe?
You should avoid taking expired lorazepam if possible, even if your symptoms are severe. The risks tend to outweigh any potential benefits.
Instead of taking the expired pills, you have a few better options:
- Obtain a new, non-expired prescription from your doctor
- Safely dispose of the expired lorazepam
- Discuss alternative treatments with your doctor that don’t require medications
- Seek immediate medical help if your symptoms are severe and intolerable
Your doctor may be able to call in a small quantity of a new lorazepam prescription to hold you over until your appointment. Or they may recommend another medication in the short term.
There are also some self-care techniques and lifestyle changes than can help manage anxiety or insomnia episodes without necessarily needing lorazepam. But talk to your doctor before discontinuing any prescribed medications.
How long does lorazepam last past its expiration date?
It’s difficult to predict precisely how long lorazepam remains effective past its printed expiration date. This depends on variables like the storage conditions and original potency. But some general guidelines suggest:
- Up to 90 days: May maintain nearly full potency
- 90 days to 2 years: Potency declines, but likely still fairly effective
- 2 to 3 years: Significantly reduced potency and more variability
- Over 3 years: Potency likely depleted; safety cannot be guaranteed
Again, lorazepam stored in ideal conditions may last longer, while medication stored in hot, humid, or bright conditions may degrade faster. The expiration date is a final guarantee of full potency, not an exact expiration threshold.
Proper storage keeps lorazepam in the best condition possible. Keep it in the original labeled container, protected from light and moisture, and avoid storage in warm places like a bathroom medicine cabinet.
Does expired lorazepam lose effectiveness immediately after the expiration date?
No, lorazepam does not immediately become ineffective or dangerous the day after its expiration date. The expiration date represents the final day the manufacturer can guarantee the medication is fully potent. After this date, the medication very gradually starts losing potency over time.
Think of the expiration date as a fading point rather than a strict cut off. Lorazepam starts fading after the printed date, but it takes time for potency to significantly decline. It does not suddenly stop working overnight.
For example, a pill that expired a month ago is unlikely to have lost much efficacy. But a pill that expired 10 years ago has almost certainly lost potency due to long-term deterioration.
The rate of degradation depends on storage conditions. With ideal storage, lorazepam may maintain most of its effectiveness for some time past the expiration date before potency starts tapering off. Poor storage accelerates the decline in potency.
Should I dispose of expired lorazepam?
Yes, you should safely dispose of any expired lorazepam. The US Food and Drug Administration and other health authorities recommend properly disposing of medications after they reach their expiration date.
If your lorazepam expired recently, the best option is to take the medication to a drug take-back location. Many pharmacies, police stations, hospitals, and community centers have permanent drug take-back bins. This safely disposes of medications and keeps them out of landfills and water.
If no take-back program is available, you can dispose of lorazepam at home by:
- Mixing pills with an unpalatable substance like dirt or cat litter in a sealed bag or container
- Throwing away the sealed container in your household trash
- Removing any personal information from the medication packaging before disposal
Flushing lorazepam is not recommended because it introduces drugs into the water supply. Dispose of expired medications as soon as possible.
Can I take expired lorazepam for anxiety?
You should not take expired lorazepam for anxiety or any other reason. While it may provide some relief if it has only been expired for a short time, the risks of reduced effectiveness and inconsistent dosing generally outweigh any benefits.
A slightly expired pill may still help anxiety, but its potency cannot be guaranteed like a non-expired medication. Lorazepam also loses effectiveness more quickly when taken regularly, as is often the case with anxiety medications.
Additionally, unpredictable dosing with an expired medication could accidentally lead to oversedation, which can worsen anxiety. Or it may not adequately treat anxiety symptoms, leading them to persist.
Your best options are to renew your lorazepam prescription or discuss alternative anxiety treatments with your doctor. Do not take expired medications even if your symptoms are bothersome.
Is it safe to take a slightly expired lorazepam?
It’s generally not recommended to take any expired lorazepam, even if it is only slightly expired. “Slightly expired” usually means past the expiration date by only a month or two. The risks tend to outweigh the benefits.
A pill that is recently expired may still retain most of its original potency. But there is no way to know for certain. The consistent and predictable dosing of a medication is important for safety.
Additionally, expiration dates account for the medication’s entire shelf life before its packaging is even opened. Once opened, degradation occurs even faster.
While the risks are lower with a pill that is only slightly expired, it’s still beneficial to properly dispose of it and start a new prescription. Your doctor can guide you if anxiety, insomnia, or other symptoms persist.
Conclusion
Taking expired lorazepam comes with potential risks like reduced efficacy, inconsistent dosing, contamination, and unknown chemical by-products. While not guaranteed to be unsafe, expired medications are never recommended for use.
Dispose of any expired lorazepam properly. To treat anxiety, insomnia, seizures, or other conditions, speak to your doctor about renewing your prescription or exploring alternative medication and non-medication therapies.
With careful storage away from heat, light, and moisture, lorazepam may maintain reasonable potency for a period after its expiration date. But the printed expiration date is the only guarantee of a medication’s full potency and expected shelf life.
Never take expired medications if avoidable. Be sure to monitor your lorazepam supply and request prescription renewals before running out or expiring. This helps ensure you always have access to potent medication.