diazepam expiry date question

control freak · 22-01-2009, 05:42 PM

I've been prescribed diazepam as PRN. I collected it today from the pharmacy, and its expiry date is the 20th February 2009.

It's liquid. Does liquid diazepam generally have a short shelf life, or have I been unlucky?

What would happen if I took it a couple of months after the expiry date? As I was planning on taking it for my dental appointment (so I dont have a panic attack) but that isn't until April.

surprising mystery · 22-01-2009, 06:06 PM

I honestly dont know if liquid diazepam has a shorter expiry date, but that is really short even if it does. I would go back to the pharmacy and speak to the pharmasist, they will be able to see from the sticker that it was prescribed only recently. So maybe they can swap it if you tell them its for a dental appointment in april.

Sorry I cant be of more help.

xx

control freak · 22-01-2009, 06:31 PM

I'll take it back tomorrow, but they might refuse to change it. They can be really fussy with that sort of thing.

Misunderstood. · 22-01-2009, 06:32 PM

I thinkit's probably got a shorter expiry date because of it being in liquid form and I wouldn't advise taking it months after the exiry daye, a couple of days yeah, but not months. If I were you I'd take it back and explain when you need it for.

22-01-2009, 06:34 PM

They will refuse to take it back incase it's been "tampered" with - Chemists are usually really anal about things like that.

Liquid Diazepam has a shorter shelf life anyway because of the added sugar that's put into it (so it doesn't taste rank).
When i came out of hospital last september after an OD i had problems swallowing tablets (all psychological) so i got prescribed liquid Diazepam, but because i went on such a high dosage it didn't stay in the bottle for more than a week..lol. But i believe mine also had a short shelf life as i remember reading it and thinking hmm..

So yes. Once it's out of date just get another. Are you on quite a small dosage of it?
xx

control freak · 22-01-2009, 07:17 PM

I rang the pharmacist and explained. Because it was such an unusual strength (2.5mg in 5ml rather than 2mg or 5mg) it had to be ordered it, and because of that the expiry date is a lot shorter.

He said that I will have to go back to the doctor after it expires and explain to him, and to get the 2mg in 5ml or 5mg in 5ml with a longer expiry date.