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Does anyone know if, and for how long, EXPIRED BIRTH CONTROL PILLS ARE EFFECTIVE?
12-3Princess Posted: Aug 25, 2005 08:17 AM+
12-3Princess MEMBER SINCE: 12/04 TOTAL POSTS : 3093 WEDDING DATE: Oct 29, 2005
Posted: Aug 25, 2005 08:17 AM bride-minus.png

Does anyone know if, and for how long, EXPIRED BIRTH CONTROL PILLS ARE EFFECTIVE?

Does anyone know how long expired birth control pills are effective? Mine are Ortho-Try-Cyclen and I just realized my packs expired in May... oops... They still are definitely working (I can tell from their effects on my body) but I don't know for how long. I still have three packs but I may need to throw them out.

I should ask my Dr. but I'm afraid she'll just tell me not to use them to be safe, and I don't wanna waste them unless they really are not working anymore.

TIA!
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jes81276 Posted: Aug 25, 2005 08:20 AM+
jes81276 MEMBER SINCE: 3/05 TOTAL POSTS : 1895 WEDDING DATE: Jul 21, 2006
Posted: Aug 25, 2005 08:20 AM bride-minus.png

Re: Does anyone know if, and for how long, EXPIRED BIRTH CONTROL PILLS ARE EFFECTIVE?

I don't know, but I would definitely ask your Dr. I am sure that if they are safe she will tell you not to throw them out. However, if there is that chance that they aren't safe I don't think it is worth the risk.
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Blu-ize Posted: Aug 25, 2005 09:27 AM+
Blu-ize MEMBER SINCE: 8/04 TOTAL POSTS : 8304 WEDDING DATE: Feb 28, 1998
Posted: Aug 25, 2005 09:27 AM bride-minus.png

Re: Does anyone know if, and for how long, EXPIRED BIRTH CONTROL PILLS ARE EFFECTIVE?

Call your doc. I would never take any medication that is expired. Medications that are expired are not safe and can make you sick. As far as taking the chance that they are effective...you are playing Russian Roulette.
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Johnny&Maur Posted: Aug 25, 2005 12:24 PM+
Johnny&Maur MEMBER SINCE: 8/04 TOTAL POSTS : 1165 WEDDING DATE: Sep 23, 2005
Posted: Aug 25, 2005 12:24 PM bride-minus.png

Re: Does anyone know if, and for how long, EXPIRED BIRTH CONTROL PILLS ARE EFFECTIVE?

Definitely get a fresh pack...EVERY medication loses its effectiveness after a certain time, hence the expiration. I know this applies to antibiotics as well. Sure they could still help a little, but would you want your BC pills to work at 50% effectiveness? Chances are they're ok (it was only may, not may 04 ) BUT better safe than sorry.

Good luck!!
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LaurenluvsTJ Posted: Aug 25, 2005 06:43 PM+
LaurenluvsTJ MEMBER SINCE: 1/05 TOTAL POSTS : 11866 WEDDING DATE: May 28, 2006
Posted: Aug 25, 2005 06:43 PM bride-minus.png

Re: Does anyone know if, and for how long, EXPIRED BIRTH CONTROL PILLS ARE EFFECTIVE?

I would say... they are probably still good... expiration dates are just a thing the FDA says has to be on everything.... did you know that many of the expired drugs from the US are sent to 3rd world countries? They are used there and are just as effective.
If it was YEARS after the exp. date, they would probably lose effectiveness.... however, I still think you should call your doctor about it..
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David'sbride Posted: Aug 25, 2005 06:44 PM+
David'sbride MEMBER SINCE: 7/04 TOTAL POSTS : 3412 WEDDING DATE: Jul 04, 2005
Posted: Aug 25, 2005 06:44 PM bride-minus.png

Re: Does anyone know if, and for how long, EXPIRED BIRTH CONTROL PILLS ARE EFFECTIVE?

Call your doctor NOW and stay away from FH until you reach the doc.
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nov04LIbride Posted: Aug 25, 2005 07:02 PM+
nov04LIbride MEMBER SINCE: 3/04 TOTAL POSTS : 8140 WEDDING DATE: Nov 06, 2004
Posted: Aug 25, 2005 07:02 PM bride-minus.png

Re: Does anyone know if, and for how long, EXPIRED BIRTH CONTROL PILLS ARE EFFECTIVE?

I used butter that expired in May to make cookies last night and it was OK.

Anyway, I wouldn't take any chances--don't want to be PG and morning sick on your wedding day! How long ago did you get your prescription? I would complain to the pharmacy if it wasn't long ago--that's crazy to expire that soon after you get them.
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DebsNY Posted: Aug 25, 2005 07:52 PM+
DebsNY MEMBER SINCE: 8/04 TOTAL POSTS : 7391 WEDDING DATE: Aug 07, 2005
Posted: Aug 25, 2005 07:52 PM bride-minus.png

Re: Does anyone know if, and for how long, EXPIRED BIRTH CONTROL PILLS ARE EFFECTIVE?

You should probably be okay, but I would double check with your doc.

And most expired meds don't make you sick, they just loose effectiveness - but fairly slowly, I believe. My step-dad is a pharmacist and we would keep pills that were years past expiration in the house, and use them.

Liquid medication that needs to be refrigerated I wouldn't take past expiration, tho.
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dpli Posted: Aug 25, 2005 10:42 PM+
dpli MEMBER SINCE: 1/04 TOTAL POSTS : 2470 WEDDING DATE: Nov 07, 2004
Posted: Aug 25, 2005 10:42 PM bride-minus.png

Re: Does anyone know if, and for how long, EXPIRED BIRTH CONTROL PILLS ARE EFFECTIVE?

Call me crazy, but this is one expired medication I would not want to take a chance with......
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