In this article, you will learn that using out-of-date Viagra can be unsafe. We will tell you how to store this medicine and what needs to be done to dispose of it.
You will learn how to choose the most suitable place to store ED drugs. In addition, you will read about how to maintain optimal storage conditions during travel.
Important! Although no special research studies have been conducted to test expired Viagra, examination of other pharmaceutical products shows that storage time can affect their stability.
What is the shelf life of Viagra?
So, “Does Viagra have a use-by date?”. Of course, and it is about 2 years. All drug manufacturers should properly label their products, indicating when they were manufactured and how long they can be stored. You can find this information on a cardboard or PVC blister sealed with aluminium foil.
Be careful and responsible! It depends on you whether your ED pills remain of the same quality as when you buy them at the pharmacy.
Practical tips for storing Viagra and more:
- Read the leaflet after purchasing the Viagra and save it if you need to read it again.
- Check the Viagra expiry date; it should be indicated in two places – on the cardboard package and the blister – usually, it is about 2 years.
- Please do not remove the tablet from the original packaging unless you plan to use it.
- Do not store pills at temperatures above 30°C and protect the packaging and tablets from exposure to light and moisture. When travelling, keeping the medicine in your hand luggage is better.
- Never leave pills where the child can get them – they’re too much like candy.
- Do not throw drugs into a household waste container – they can be dangerous to another person.
What happens if you take expired Viagra
Imagine the following situation: you take a package of ED drugs because you are planning sexual intimacy, and suddenly you see that the expiration date has recently expired, for example, 3 days ago. There may be a legitimate question immediately: “Can Viagra be taken after the expiration date?”.
Let us say at once: you need to recycle drugs whose shelf life has expired. It is a standard recommendation that is applied in the pharmaceutical industry.
Meanwhile, according to studies conducted in the US, about 90% of the 100 drugs thrown out by the US military every few years are still usable even 15 years after their expiration date.
In other words, the efficacy of drugs may indeed decline over time, but some of their original efficacy may persist after the expiration date. It should be noted that the above study is still concerned with discarded drugs in general, not PDE5 inhibitors.
Some experts will tell you that many medications are still safe to use, especially if their shelf life has expired recently. Placing tablets, for example, in the refrigerator (not in the freezer) will help to keep their effectiveness.
Other experts are of the opinion that it is better not to take an expired drug. According to experts, most people do not store drugs in optimal conditions, which makes it even more preferable to observe the expiration date.
If you take the expired Viagra, you will no longer have the manufacturer’s guarantee that ED pills are safe for you. There’s a good chance the drug won’t be as effective after it expires.
That is why most pharmacologists recommend checking the home first aid kit at least once every 12 months and throwing out expired drugs. This way, you will have the assurance that you will get the most out of the treatment.
Conclusion
The Australian Department of Health does not recommend buying more Viagra or any other medication than you need. The warranty period for PDE5 inhibitors may expire before you finish using them.
Medicines that have been improperly stored, damaged or expired must be taken to the pharmacy. This is a free service. Such drugs will be disposed of in a safe and environmentally friendly manner.
