Can I still take calcium tablets after they have expired?
Disease description:
Recently, I experienced leg pain due to calcium deficiency and found a bottle of calcium tablets at home, but they have expired. Can I still take them?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Chen Jian
Whether expired calcium tablets can still be consumed mainly depends on how long they have been expired and the storage conditions. Theoretically, once medication has passed its expiration date, its active ingredients may degrade, leading to reduced efficacy and potentially the formation of harmful substances. Therefore, according to pharmaceutical regulations, it is not recommended to use expired medications.
1. Safety: Expired medications may undergo unknown chemical changes due to the decomposition of active ingredients, especially if storage conditions were suboptimal, such as exposure to high temperatures or excessive humidity. These conditions can accelerate chemical changes and increase the risk of harmful substances forming.
2. Efficacy: Even in the absence of apparent harmful substances, the active ingredients in expired medications may gradually degrade and diminish over time. As a result, the intended calcium supplementation effect may not be achieved after consumption.
Therefore, for safety and health considerations, it is strongly advised not to consume expired calcium tablets. If there is a need for calcium supplementation, it is recommended to purchase new, non-expired products.
