Is it okay to take expired vitamins?

United States
August 13, 2009 3:47pm CST
Recently my family has been buying a lot of packaged food because they are cheaper. Almost every meal we have were frozen or came from a can. Then my hair started thining out. I think it's because I don't have enough vitamins so I was considering taking supplement tablets. Our family has this huge bottle that was around for some time. Only....it expired two months ago. I was wondering if it is still safe to take them....?
1 person likes this
15 responses
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
13 Aug 09
If they really only expired two months ago they should still be safe. They do not "magically" go bad overnight on their expiration date. But, that is the date that the companies will not guarantee them past. After that time the ingrediants may start breaking down. This is especially true if they have been opened or stored at high temperatures in bright light instead of in a cool dark place. Only you know how they have been stored. Also, look the tablets over. Is there any discoloration or spots on them? Are they crumbly to the touch? Are they sticking together? If any of those things are true - toss them and get some new ones - a small bottle of multivitamins does not cost much.
1 person likes this
• United States
13 Aug 09
Thanks. The tablets look find it's just the date on the bottle got me a little worried. They weren't stored at high temperature so I think they're alright
@hulaboy (319)
• Micronesia
13 Aug 09
I think that if its been expired for up to a month, then its okay. But after that, its going to be toxic.
@Capsicum (1444)
• United States
14 Aug 09
Vitamins by law have to be marked with a expiration date.That the FDA finds proper not the company.I have talked to many good vitamin companies, while ordering products for my company. They told me they last years,but the FDA cannot except that. So they are forced to mark them with expiration dates.If it is a liquid, or perishable this is a different story.
@zhuhuifen46 (3483)
• China
14 Aug 09
I have a lot of medicine and nutricious supplements at home, but very often they got expired before I realize. In such cases, I would throw them away without hesitation. The medicines not taken means that I have been healthy enough. I would rather keep away than take the risk.
• Malaysia
14 Aug 09
i think there is reasons the manufacturer set the expiration date. if it is expired, then we better do no consume the vitamins anymore. it may cause unknown hazard to our health. if i am you, then i will dispose the expired vitamins. it is not wise to eat something that already expired.
@gossipzz (498)
• Canada
14 Aug 09
I know we are in a recession and we all have to cut back but I believe in as natural as possible. We all need the extra vitamins but I do not believe in taking any over the counter vitamins at all but, if we really need it would be ok. They do say anything that expires can go for atleast 6 months;however I would not take anything that is one day past expiry. This is your health and can cause serious problems. Watch for those side effects.
• India
14 Aug 09
I dont thaink so as i believe its really risky and one must not risk his life for such minor things.
@balasri (26537)
• India
14 Aug 09
Taking expired vitamins isn't harmful, but expired vitamins aren't likely to do you much good. Once they expire, the vitamins may have already decomposed to the point where they're not very potent. The expiration date guarantees that the vitamins will include the listed ingredients up until the date on the label. Sure, some of the vitamins or other nutrients can be potent afterward, but the company doesn't guarantee that. To be on the safe side, throw them away and by a new bottle.
@robert19ph (4577)
• Philippines
14 Aug 09
hello animegirl334, I brought that to my Doctor when I once visited him in his clinic and I was told that it is safe to take any medicine/vitamins for that matter that is/are already expired only after six months. Beyond that is not safe anymore. So for your case. it's just fine.
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
14 Aug 09
hi aNimegirl no dont take expired anything especially not vitmins as they deteiorate fast after the e date.Its best to be safe not sorry when its something that you swallow or eat or drink. expiration dates are there for a purpose so head them.In the case of vitamins they probably get too strong and that would not be safe. you can overdose on some vitamins.
@kmaram (2533)
• Philippines
14 Aug 09
Hi there, well i dont think its safe to used expired vitamins, foods or even medicines. I think you should have more problem when you take this. Better eat or take something that was fresh or unexpired so there is assurance that you are doing in a healthy way, keep on mylotting
@versio9 (329)
• Philippines
14 Aug 09
even if vitamins generally have efficacy even after their expiration date, it is better not to take these vitamins. because i suspect that they were exposed to moisture or hot temperature. but if these vitamins are not branded ones, i'm sure their efficacy has been reduced way before their expiration date. also, bear in mind these vitamins have chemical coatings that doesn't last in a long time. ingesting them will give you a bum stomach at least, or even a headache. so, no, i don't recommend you taking expired vitamins.
@colydf (913)
• China
14 Aug 09
I think you'd better not do so. Expired vitamins may have some bad effect on your health. Have a nice day!
@webearn99 (1742)
• India
13 Aug 09
You want to take expired vitamins? Go ahead, take them to the nearest trash can and dump them. If YOU want to take the expired vitamins you may join the list of the expired or worse the wait list. Just get rid of those vitamins okay? You are in enough trouble with cheap canned food. You don't need to complicate the issue by taking unsafe medication. After all it is not for nothing that that an expiry date has been marked.
• Canada
14 Aug 09
I would never touch anything expired, it says expired for a reason right? better to play safe!
@sblossom (2168)
13 Aug 09
I always pay attention on expired time for my food and medicine. However my husband doesn’t care. He sometimes had food expired. In your case I don’t think it will have any risk when you take the expired Vitamin products, especially it just expires two months. However I also don’t think the Vitamin will help you with your hair problem. You might need some special material for your hair from food or something else, but not ordinary Vitamine.