Expert: Michael Anisfeld - 1/5/2007

Question
I've been on prednisone off and on for years as treatment for Crohn's disease. I currently have about 50 tablets left from an RX from 2005.  I need to resume taking it and wondered if they would still be effective.  I have typically started off by taking 15 mg every other day, then over a period of many many weeks, tapering it off. It's not that I'm cheap, I know it isn't a really expensive drug.  But I no longer have medical insurance and to further complicate things, had to change doctors b/c mine retired.  The new one will not write a new RX until I have a colonoscopy. I explained about the insurance and needing to work out a payment plan with the hospital but--he still won't do it, liability I suppose.  It's been stored in the original container, in a dark closet.  Thanks so much for any information you can provide.

Kathy  

Answer
Kathy:

Your pharmacist has a record of the batch number of the prescription that was filled in 2005; and from these records he will know the tablet's expiration date.

If the pharmacist has no records, be aware that most drugs have a 2 year shelf life from their date of manufacture. Most pharmacies receive drugs that are already about 3-6 months into their shelf life, so yours could already have expired!

While a tightly closed container kept in the dark helps, in future store drugs in your refrigerator to maximize shelf life - perhaps even extend it for about a year (depending on the drug).

Good Luck