topic Re: Using an expired ointment in Community Chat

Using an expired ointment

San Antonio Gal — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 12:49:38 GMT

Around 3 years ago, my doggie had small scab-like sore on her outer ear that would not go away. Her vet prescribed an ointment that cleared it up right away.

The scab came back recently, but the ointment I had expired 2 years ago. It smelled fine and looked fine. I used it and again, it cleared up right away.

I would never use expired medicine that has to be taken orally.

What are your thoughts on using an expired ointment or cream type medicine - whether on a person or pet ?

Re: Using an expired ointment

LindaSal — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 12:53:30 GMT

My physician had told me once that many oinments keep their effectiveness well beyond the expiration date. That being said I think after a couple of years I would toss it. Nothing lasts forever as eventually the chemical compound will most likely break down.

You are smart not to take oral meds that have expired. Some antibiotics can become toxic after expiration.

Happy your dog healed up!

Re: Using an expired ointment

Citrine1 — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 12:54:05 GMT

We keep neosporin (and probably a few other ointments) in the house at all times. I'll look at the dates once in a while. For the most part, most of them expire before we get to use the product up. We continue to use them until they are gone. It's never been an issue.

And, to be honest, I've probably used expired oral medication as well. Not necessarily prescription meds, but aspirin and the like.

Re: Using an expired ointment

beckyb1012 — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 13:00:51 GMT

I had myself a tube of neosporin and living alone it is barely used. I tossed it about 5 years after the expiration date and used most of the tube during that time on small cuts and burns. Did not kill me but still healed me.

Re: Using an expired ointment

SilleeMee — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 13:02:45 GMT

Depends on what the active ingredient list contains. Some lose efficacy sooner than others. I think it's fine to use expired ointment, however, you may want to apply it more often since it's old and possibly not as potent as it was intended to be.

Re: Using an expired ointment

We rescue cats — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 13:02:58 GMT

I have a couple of ointments for the cats that I keep on hand, much like I keep Neosporin on hand for us. I seldom check expiration dates.

Re: Using an expired ointment

Laura14 — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 13:08:02 GMT

Expiration dates are a legal guarantee required by law that the product has the effectiveness as labeled on the packaging when you use it as directed.

After the expiration date, it's not a guarantee and most medications do lose effectiveness after that date and may or may not have the strength to combat whatever you are trying to treat.

This is from a former Pharmacy tech and the advice to be careful with certain products like antibiotics is excellent advice. Not all medications remain in stable form after their use date.

Re: Using an expired ointment

Estellee — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 13:23:43 GMT

I've been told many OTC meds can be used after the expiration date. Same with a prescription that has expired. Some pharmacists say not after 1 year. Each situation is different I think @San Antonio Gal

Re: Using an expired ointment

Teddixat — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 14:12:53 GMT

@San Antonio Gal This issue came up in my household recently and I googled the issue. In most cases meds are good beyond their expiration date. The only exception is if they have been exposed to hot temps avd sunlight. If they are kept in a cool dry place they are usually fine. There is a lot of information on the internet about expiration dates from reliable sources

Re: Using an expired ointment

JeanLouiseFinch — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 14:39:43 GMT

If it was all I had available, I'd use it. But then I'd make sure to replace it on my next shopping trip.

Re: Using an expired ointment

Sooner — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 14:43:38 GMT

@San Antonio Gal wrote:
Around 3 years ago, my doggie had small scab-like sore on her outer ear that would not go away. Her vet prescribed an ointment that cleared it up right away.

The scab came back recently, but the ointment I had expired 2 years ago. It smelled fine and looked fine. I used it and again, it cleared up right away.

I would never use expired medicine that has to be taken orally.

What are your thoughts on using an expired ointment or cream type medicine - whether on a person or pet ?

@San Antonio Gal My thought is spend resources on what it important. And to me fresh products, especially food and medicines, are what you spend on/invest in.

To me it makes more sense than the stuff we all spend money on that we don't need and doesn't matter and clutters up our lives.

Don't just buy. Invest. In your health especially.

Re: Using an expired ointment

drizzellla — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 15:14:01 GMT

My son is a pharmacy tech and said like others have stated that generally the drug is still good after the expiration date but generally looses it's effectiveness. And different drugs may loose it's effectiveness at different rates.

Another big factor is how the drug is stored. Did the drug sit in a warehouse for several months before shipped? There are unknown factors before you receive the drug. That can affect the drug. Plus do you store any drugs in your bathroom. And the changes of climate that a bathroom goes through.

He is always checking ALL expiration dates for ANYTHING in the house. He drives me crazy. But I guess since he has expiration dates drilled into him when his company does inventory, I guess I can understand,

Re: Using an expired ointment

conlt — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 15:30:14 GMT

I hate to say this because I am a RN, but Doctors and Nurses are known to be some of the worst patients. I keep some expired medications and use them sometimes. For instance, I have a muscle relaxant. It comes in hand sometimes when I have pain.

I would never save antibiotics beyond expiration.

So for me, it depends on the medication.

Re: Using an expired ointment

CrazyTimes — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 16:01:06 GMT

@JeanLouiseFinch wrote:
If it was all I had available, I'd use it. But then I'd make sure to replace it on my next shopping trip.

@JeanLouiseFinch

Same here. In a pinch, yes, but I wouldn't want to use expired meds too long.

Re: Using an expired ointment

Nightowlz — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 16:21:43 GMT

We still use full bottles of expired aspirin & ibuprofen I bought in 2020.

Not buying new to sit in the cabinet to expire. LOL!!!

Re: Using an expired ointment

Icegoddess — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 16:39:29 GMT

@conlt wrote:
I hate to say this because I am a RN, but Doctors and Nurses are known to be some of the worst patients. I keep some expired medications and use them sometimes. For instance, I have a muscle relaxant. It comes in hand sometimes when I have pain.
I would never save antibiotics beyond expiration.
So for me, it depends on the medication.

@conlt I agree. I use and consume expried everything. I wouldn't use expired antibiotics because your'e supposed to take all of what you are given, so I never have any leftover antibiotics. My doctor has even told me to take some expired pain medication. It was at night and no way to get a new prescription. I had a stockpile since they often give you too much whenever you have something done. It did the job to get me through the night.

Re: Using an expired ointment

Tinkrbl44 — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 17:36:47 GMT

@San Antonio Gal

Unfortunately, many people think if a topical product "expires" on October 1st it was perfectly fine on September 30th, but then goes bad on 10-1.

Things don't always expire ... they are often just less effective with time.

For something "iffy" I would just ask my Pharmacist what she thinks about it.

Re: Using an expired ointment

tansy — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 18:53:49 GMT

The vet told me to not toss an ointment that my dog needed occasionally for a rash.

Re: Using an expired ointment

SloopJohnB — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 20:17:07 GMT

Years ago I had to get a prescription for Bactroban. It worked so good that I only needed a dab or two out of the tube before the problem cleared up. I had kept the tube. When I eventually needed the cream again, I used it. It had expired but it still worked fine. In fact, I think the only reason I eventually tossed it was because I used it up, not because of the old expiration date. And I lived to tell about it. LOL

Re: Using an expired ointment

Shelbelle — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 20:30:05 GMT

Per one of my doctors, a rock hard pill or tablet will last for a very long time beyond the date, it wont decompose, softgels that contain oils wont last quite as long but longer than the date, same for creams and capsules. I never toss anything if it has expired unless it changes in smell, consistency or color, including skin creams.

Years ago I had a tube of Colgate toothpaste that was past the exp date, I called their CS and the rep told me that the dates are really for legal purposes only, and that the toothpaste could be used for up to 18 months after the exp date. Also when my adult kids were infants my pediatrician said I could keep formula 24 hours beyond the date as long as it was in the fridge. Supposedly it was supposed to be used once open within 24 hours but he said 48 was fine