Does prednisone lose its potency over time? I’m not interested in the question of whether or not it is better to take “fresh” prednisone as opposed to old prednisone. In the absence of not knowing, then, of course, it would be better to take recent dated. I’m interested in the question of does it lose its potency or not, and if so to what extent does it lose its potency. I’m not interested in guesses, beliefs, surmises; I’m interested in scientific evidence.
Does old prednisone lose its potency?: Does... - PMRGCAuk
Does old prednisone lose its potency?
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skipspmr
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Don't know if there is any scientific evidence other than for hydrocortisone in solution which isn't relevant for us - I have looked often enough. But pharmacists have said out-of-date pred should not be used. I can't see how it would "crumble" in a few days - but it does lose potency if stored under the wrong conditions - heat, cold and humidity are all bad for it and may reduce efficacy even before the use-by date.
Of course pharmacists and drug companies would take that position as they have a vested interest in that position. I'm looking for objective, scientific observation.
Then why not look for some and report back? There is no reason why any of us should have any better information that I offered you.
in reply to PMRpro
Well said!
Maybe this will do as it is a report of an FDA study for the military:
health.harvard.edu/staying-...
saying that 90% of the 100 medications tested were OK up to 15 years post expiry date - or at least safe. Whether they were 100% as effective is another matter. But which were the 10%?
This summary review probably provides you with the references in which you might be interested:
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...
Bear in mind though that the results from the FDA are relevant to drugs stored under optimal conditions, Which is probably not the case for a lot of drug cabinets in the bathroom ...
If you research it and find scientific evidence can you please share the evidence with us here. Thanks.
I am sure you could do the research just as easily as other forum members. Please feel fee to let us know the outcome if you find evidence. YBB
HeronNS you’ve done it! Thanks I especially love the one that says it is really slow to lose!!!! Good! And thanks for the question skispmr and the answer heron! Stay safe!
I doubt this is what skispmr really wants. But at least the people supplying a couple of the answers seemed qualified.
in reply to HeronNS
I read this a while back and don't think it is scientific in the way it was asked.
HeronNS in reply to
Exactly. but that's what we find when we look.
in reply to HeronNS
Yes...anyone can use Google to find info. It would be good if they realised that's where much of the info we get is from there. Pharmacists have already been rejected.
Yellowbluebell in reply to
Exactly. Why would anyone think this forum is to find info on a subject when the person could quite easily do it themselves. Pmr and gca queries not a library. YBB
in reply to yogabonnie
It's not scientific by the stringent by skispmr criteria.
Dr Ben Goldacre said most drugs lasted well past their date and he had taken pain killers three years out of date. He did say there were some drugs that must be fresh though, unfortunately I have forgotten what they were, but I am not taking them anyway, so steroids must be OK provided you have looked after them .
in reply to piglette
I think a Dr just saying it isn't scientific evidence enough to answer. Piglette ,I think the person who demanded an answer in the post wasnt really interested in whether a Dr said so. The poster wants scientific proof, perhaps they can research Dr goodacre as you suggest. 🤔
HeronNS in reply to
I had an exchange on a bone health site a few months ago where I ended up feeling quite bullied by the question asker. I'm not sure why I even rose to the bait this time. 
in reply to HeronNS
Yes it's quite a rude way to ask for help.
piglette in reply to
Poopadoopy, In the future I will not reply to people unless I can show detailed, scientific, researched, information to back up what I am saying, which means I will probably not be posting any more. Goodbye.
in reply to piglette
Piglette I have pm you. 🌻
Did you not see the snippet reply I got from the person who asked? Poops was only saying they were unlikely to be satisfied with anything less than references to a study looking at out of date medications!!!
Maybe this will do as it is a report of an FDA study for the military:
health.harvard.edu/staying-...
saying that 90% of the 100 medications tested were OK up to 15 years post expiry date - or at least safe. Whether they were 100% as effective is another matter. But which were the 10%?
No expert, but doxycycline is dangerous to the point of fatal is over the date.
It is one yes - but they don't usually admit of the box do they!
in reply to piglette
Btw I took OODATE cocodamol and threw up for 3 days! It was 3 months out of date though.
Skipspmr, I think you should help the community here. We have search for years for a definitive answer, but can only get access to I formation in the public domain. If our search words aren't spot on then we cant get them or they are not published for a reason..
Post a more collaborative approach to a question, rather than dismissing answers before people might answer them. .
What I know personally, I have ....pred out of date has often been ok and yet some in date are batches that haven't worked. You provide no context for the question.
The question itself is fine, but to not allow others to add their comments, observation and analysis is dismissive is not really collorative.
Please feel free to try and establish it and then share it. When the next person comes along asking the same question you or someone else may answer it.
skipspmr in reply to
My intent is to be dismissive of answers, comments, that don't address the question.
in reply to skipspmr
Like we said. Please search for yourself online. People have used what knowledge and skills they have to answer. If that's not good enough then please research it. This isn't a library we have given you answers we know....there are some retired pharmacist on the forum but after your dismissal of their profession....we have all wondered this and looked but 1979 was the latest I found any info...forward motion provided that.
If you ask a question and dismiss answers then please use another forum. This is discussion based. Asking for such a narrow answer here is not what this forum thrives on. Yes we provide access to research studies and if there was a fulsom answer we knew, then we would share it happily. If the standard of information is not good enough for you here then feel free to go elsewhere. Your question and dismissive approach to people is rude and not in line with our guidelines. Please try and interact properly and with compassion or not at all.
Moderator
Then i suggest you ask somewhere else rather than try and dictate what our forum members can say.YBB
If it's scientific evidence you are after and it's out there , make it your mission to go and find it .
As you are probably stuck with time on your hands at Home like the rest of Us you could put it to good use doing your own research on the topics that interest you.
Rather tha demand we do the work for him.xYBB
Empirical only, but I ran out of 1mg tablets last year and found several packs at back of cupboard that were a year out of date. Worked my way through 6 or 7 packs until 1mg became available again. No ill effects as far as I could tell. I was reducing and at one stage was taking four a day.
I have since read - can't remember where - that in correct storage conditions they can be effective for up to 15 years. Not sure I'd care to try that though.
That sounds Scientific enough for me Maria, so do we need more info then folks?
Thank you for this constructive comment.
I’ll now get dusting off my stock, - (in a mask of course)!
We need to look at how expiry dates are calculated. To be able to prove 12 months shelf life, you need to keep the drug for twelve months after manufacture, then get it tested. Maybe again after 2 and 3 years you will get the original batch tested again, so you can sell future production with 2 then 3 years shelf life. After that, what's the point of further testing? It will get to the consumer with 2 plus years shelf life. So expiry dates show that the product is good up to expiry date, not that it will not be good after the expiry date.
So the definitive answer to whether expired drugs have retained their full potency is "maybe"!
Though to be fair - people on the forum have had deliveries from the pharmacy in the past with a few weeks left and on one occasion even a few months out of date! It doesn't matter with pred for most people if it is short-dated as they are on a short course and stop - does for us though.
You might want to google and search for that information.
Please tell me you are not an American! haha
Stability study information forms part of the submission for the purpose of gaining a product licence without which the drug cannot be marketed. The results of these studies enable the manufacturer to asign a shelf life to the product under specified storage conditions. Product licensing is a complex field in itself and in the UK is controlled by the MHRA.
The only person who can answer your question would be the product licence holder of the brand of prednisolone you are enquiring about. I doubt they would entertain your enquiry if you are a member of the public.
I do hope you are not trying to make trouble for someone since the tone of your post is somewhat adversarial.
Wow! All I was trying to do was see if I can use some old prednisone pills without getting a lot of bullshit from big pharma and pharmacists strangled by their vested interests. I just love that I hit a sensitive nerve in the process.
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