Question 1

is it safe to use vitamins after the expiration date?

Accepted Answer

It depends...: Expiration dates tend to be rather artificial & somewhat arbitrary. If a vitamin has an expiration date a year after manufacture it is not like the next day it suddenly goes bad. They may lose some potency over time but are unlikely to be dangerous. A vitamin a month or 2 past expiration date is probably ok- if it expired 2 years ago i would be more cautious!

Question 2

is vitamin d safe one year after expiration date?

Accepted Answer

No: I would not take medication this far out of date. It may have lost its potency.

Question 3

ok to take folic acid & b vitamins beyond expiration date? if so, how long? a year?

Accepted Answer

No: Expiration dates are on medications and vitamins for a reason.  Vitamins can lose their effectiveness.

Question 4

is there really an expiration on one a day vitamins?

Accepted Answer

Yes: Vitamins can react with air or light and do have expiration dates. That being said, they do not exactly go to the dark side one stroke after midnight on the expiration date. There is some leeway built into the expiration date.

Question 5

is it ok to take vitamins on or past their exp date?

Accepted Answer

5 years: Most medications can be safely used for 5 years after expiration.\

companies want to make money.

Exception: adrenalin, epipen (epinephrine).

Question 6

i have taken some vitamin c (emergen-c)which expired on may .is there any problem?i noticed  the expiry date after taking it for 2 days now.

Accepted Answer

Not likely: It is not like it is a self-destruct date, otherwise all of us would be gone, as that happens to everyone now and then. Just starts to lose effective concentration so should be replaced.

Question 7

how do you boost 3 y.o. immune system? up to date on shots but has had influenza a & b. similar symptoms again. on singular and daily vitamin.

Accepted Answer

Maybe stop singulair (montelukast): It's very frustrating to have a sick kid, one with allergies or asthma, or any chronic illness. There are drawbacks from any medication, but one of the adverse effects from singulair (montelukast) can be an increased risk of viral illness. You should consider talking to your doctor about a different allergy medication.

Question 8

i'm 23 weeks pregnant and i've been taking a vitamin c supplement in addition prenatal.  is this harmful?  all tests normal to date.

Accepted Answer

Vitamin C: Probably not a problem but definitely a waste of money. Extra vitamin C just passes out of your body in your urine.

Question 9

hi i recently discovered im pregnant visited a gp and booked a gynecologist with next available date 11 april. my mom says i need to be visiting taking vitamins but nothing was prescribed should i be worried?

Accepted Answer

Depends on need: Prenatal vitamins are just vitamins.  If a woman is in good health with good nutrition, the added vitamins from prenatal vitamins are not noticeable to her body, because she is already getting enough of the vitamins from her diet.  The vitamins don't help people get pregnant. Folic Acid (alone or with other vitamins) does help decrease the chance of a certain bad type of birth defect.

Question 10

is a preconception visit necessary if i am healthy, up to date of doctor visits and vaccines, eating healthy, and am taking prenatal vitamins?

Accepted Answer

Maybe: It depends on your doctor and insurance.  There maybe some others concerns that your provider would want to go over with you. Maybe you forgot something. Maybe they would just like to get to know you. Maybe they need labs. Maybe insurance mandates it.
Patient care revolves around you and who you choose to be on your healthcare team.

Get Virtual Care

For Businesses

About Us

HealthTap Online Primary Care Doctors Accepting New Patients

Doctor answers about:

Taking vitamins after expiration date

A member asked:

Is it safe to use vitamins after the expiration date?

A member asked:

Is vitamin d safe one year after expiration date?

A member asked:

Ok to take folic acid & b vitamins beyond expiration date? if so, how long? a year?

A member asked:

Is there really an expiration on one a day vitamins?

A member asked:

Is it ok to take vitamins on or past their exp date?

A member asked:

I have taken some vitamin c (emergen-c)which expired on may .is there any problem?i noticed the expiry date after taking it for 2 days now.

A member asked:

How do you boost 3 y.o. immune system? up to date on shots but has had influenza a & b. similar symptoms again. on singular and daily vitamin.

A member asked:

I'm 23 weeks pregnant and i've been taking a vitamin c supplement in addition prenatal. is this harmful? all tests normal to date.

A member asked:

Hi i recently discovered im pregnant visited a gp and booked a gynecologist with next available date 11 april. my mom says i need to be visiting taking vitamins but nothing was prescribed should i be worried?

A member asked:

Is a preconception visit necessary if i am healthy, up to date of doctor visits and vaccines, eating healthy, and am taking prenatal vitamins?

HealthTap Online Primary Care Doctors Accepting New Patients

Telemedicine

Primary Care

Manage Your Conditions

Women's Health

Children's Health

Men's Health

Senior Health

Wellness, Prevention & Lifestyle

Sexual Health

Mental & Behavioral Health

Travel Medicine

Urgent Care

Didn't find what you're looking for?

More of what we treat

Allergies

Antibiotics

Asthma

High Blood Pressure

Prescriptions

Type 2 Diabetes

For Businesses

Company

Health Content

Join Us

Download HealthTap

Questions?