AboutMary E Scott, RPh, CGP Expertise I am a certified geriatric pharmacist with over 23 years experience as a long-term care consultant to nursing homes. I also do community-based consulting on an individual basis. My facility-based monthly newsletter on pharmacy topics is read by nurses in over 200 long-term care facilities in 5 states.
Experience I received a BS in Pharmacy in 1980 with post-graduate work in public health. I have had a Consultant Pharmacist license since 1984.
Organizations American Society of Consultant Pharmacists .I received certification in geriatric pharmacy in 1998.
Question My children currently have a prescription for Zyrtec and it is expensive for us because of our insurance! My friend has some samples from her dr. office that expired 5/07. Are these still okay to use? I have heard that many medicines are good past the expiration dates on the bottle. It is liquid Zyrtec in the same dosage as my children have. thanks
Answer Hi,Carrie!
I would still use it if I were you; it is within a year of being expired. It may not be 100% potent,but it's probably 80-90%. Don't take if liquid looks discolored or smells funny. If the samples were right from the doctor's office, chances are they were stored under proper conditions ( in a cool,dry place)Hope this helps, Mary
