Is it safe to take expired bactrim?

Answer by  patti (29325)

When you are prescribed a course of antibiotics, you should always finish the medication. It's not a good idea to keep some back for later. It's also not a good idea to self-diagnose. Specific ailments require specific antibiotics, so if you are not well, see your physician.

Answer by  jaimesgirl (1055)

Taking expired Bactrim is generally not safe, especially if the drug has been expired for quite some time. Some drugs become more or less potent (strong) over the passage of time. Taking Bactrim after it has expired could mean using an antibiotic that is not effective enough to completely kill bacteria - and could result in developing an antibiotic-resistant infection.

Answer by  mani (813)

No. All the medicines are tested thoroughly and then only expiry period is noted. After this date, it is not safety and may not work. No medicines should be used after the expiry period. Most medication will become less effective after the expiry period and may cause side effects such as allergy.

Answer by  Cookinginbc (383)

The biggest problem with taking expired Bactrim is that once expired it starts to loose it's potency therefore it will not be as effective. There is no concern about it becoming toxic though.

Answer by  Patty (195)

It really is not a good idea to take any expired antibotics. Usually they lose part of their effectiveness after a period of time and this could make your infection extremely hard to treat. The best thing to do if you think you need this antibotic is to call your Dr. and get another prescription.