Expert: Michael Anisfeld - 5/28/2007

Question
I hope you can answer this - I woke up with a blazing case of Urinary Tract Infection.  Of course this has to happen on a holiday! SO I go through my medicine cabinet as I know I have 1/2 prescription left from the last time I had this (I know I know I am supposed to finish out this whole dose)  So all I can find is an old bunch of macrobid from 2003.  So I am desperate, and I take 2.  Now I found my new batch (a month old or so).  So my question - - is the 2003 doing anything? If so, I obviously should not take the 2007 pill until tomorrow, if not I want to take the pill now! (I have also taken 2 IB to help curb the discomfort) I am not a pill person (although I do sound like one). SO my question - can/should I take the 2007 pill now?  Thanks for your help! BTW - both pills are 100 MG

Answer
When drugs go beyond their expiration date two things happen:
a. the active drug degrades, so there is less of it available to do good things and cure you;
b. the degradation by-products can themselves have harmful effects.

Immediately stop taking your 2003 material, and continue with your 2007 material. Oh, and next time finish the entire dose prescribed.