Ask The Pharmacist: Can I Take Emgality After It Has Expired?
In our latest question and answer, the pharmacist answers a reader question regarding using Emgality after its expiration date.
Can I use an Emgality injection 3 days past its expiration date?
Feb 01, 2025- Manufacturers set expiration dates based on testing to ensure medications work safely and effectively, and you can't be certain expired Emgality will work as intended. Expired medications may lose potency over time, so effectiveness could decrease even though the drug is unlikely to become harmful. It's best to discard expired Emgality and get a new prescription to ensure your treatment works properly.
Answer
Hello! Thanks for reaching out with your question about using expired Emgality.
Manufacturers assign expiration dates based on extensive studies and testing to ensure that medications retain their full potency and safety when stored correctly. Once a medication is past its expiration date, we can’t be 100% sure it will work as intended.
While most medications don’t suddenly become harmful after they expire, their effectiveness might decrease over time.
In the case of Emgality, being only three days past its expiration date means it’s unlikely that the medication has degraded significantly or turned into anything harmful. However, the real concern is that the drug may not be as potent as it once was, which could mean the treatment won’t work as effectively as it should.
Unfortunately, expired medications usually don’t show any obvious signs of degradation. Unlike something like expired aspirin—which might develop a vinegar-like smell—most drugs won’t give you any clear indication that they’ve lost potency. Just by looking at your Emgality, you generally won’t be able to tell if it has degraded or lost effectiveness.
In most cases, it’s best to discard expired medications and obtain a new prescription for a product that is still within its expiration date to ensure both safety and effectiveness.
Final Words
If you have any further questions or concerns about your medications, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your healthcare provider for personalized advice. You can always contact us again as well!
References & sources
Glossary — Terms in This Answer
- Expiration date
- The date assigned by manufacturers after which a medication is no longer guaranteed to be safe and effective.
- Potency
- The strength or effectiveness of a medication to produce its intended effect.
- Emgality
- A prescription medication used to prevent migraines.
- Degraded
- When a medication breaks down or loses quality over time.
- Prescription
- An order from a healthcare provider authorizing a patient to obtain a specific medication.
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD
Doctor of Pharmacy, board certified clinical pharmacist (BCPS), American Herbalist Guild, Medication Therapy Management certified
Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS, is a licensed pharmacist with more than 13 years of experience across retail pharmacy, clinical pharmacy, medication safety, pharmacy program development, and healthcare administration. He is the founder of HelloPharmacist.com, where he helps patients...
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