Can I still take ibuprofen after it has expired?

Generally speaking, expired ibuprofen should not be taken. The detailed explanation is as follows:

The expiration date of medications is determined by pharmaceutical manufacturers after rigorous testing to ensure safety and efficacy within this period. Once expired, the active ingredients may gradually decompose, leading to significantly reduced effectiveness or complete ineffectiveness, thus failing to provide the expected relief from pain or fever reduction. More dangerously, expired medications may undergo chemical changes and generate unknown harmful substances. Consuming them may irritate the gastrointestinal tract, causing discomfort such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and in severe cases, may even damage organs like the liver and kidneys, adding extra burden to the body. If taking expired ibuprofen delays treatment—for example, failing to reduce fever effectively or allowing pain to persist and worsen—it may lead to further disease progression and increase the difficulty of subsequent treatments.

Before taking ibuprofen, always carefully check the expiration date on the medication packaging and use it only if it is still within the valid period. After each use, keep the medication sealed and store it in a cool, dry, and light-protected place to avoid premature degradation due to improper storage. If ibuprofen has expired, it should be discarded promptly. Do not risk taking it for the sake of saving money. When experiencing discomfort, seek timely medical attention and, under a doctor's guidance, choose appropriate medications for treatment.