Is It OK to Use Expired Asthma Medicines? Rescue Medication

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All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice. Inhaler will continue to be effective for years after the exp. date, with a slow decay in potency. The peak concentration of budesonide is typically reached at about 20 to 30 minutes after dosing. Most of the drug is absorbed systemically when taking via inhalation.

I don't seem to see any real improvement when I use Albuteral. The Symbicort keeps me awake at night when I take the 2x spray/2x a day. But we always use ours for like 2 or 3 days after the expiration date as long as it smells fine. Car seats actually have an expiration date on them, I'm not sure how long they are good for though.

However, you should still check with your doctor or pharmacist before using any of these products while taking Symbicort. Symptoms of a low potassium level include problems with your heart rhythm, muscle cramps, dizziness, and fainting. Symptoms of heart rhythm changes can also include dizziness and fainting, but they may also involve a racing heart or palpitations . Taking Symbicort may lower your potassium level or cause changes to your heart rhythm. And taking Symbicort with a diuretic may make these side effects more severe.

One time may not be a concern, but the longer the inhaler is exposed to these extreme temperatures, the sooner it may begin degrading. After that date passes, the manufacturer cannot guarantee that the medicine will be safe or effective. Medicines breakdown at different rates, and much depends on how they’re stored. The use of Symbicort is contraindicated in people who have had a hypersensitivity reaction to it in the past.

Keep in mind that expiration dates are only valid for inhalers that are stored according to the manufacturer's instructions. Medications can become unstable—and therefore ineffective or unsafe—if they are not stored properly. If you use albuterol, for example, make sure you are scheduled to get a refill before your inhaler expires, even if you hardly ever need to use it. You don't want to be caught without a safe and effective rescue inhaler when you suddenly need one. Most inhalers expire one year after they’re issued, and many may still be effective up to one year after that expiration date.