Does codeine expire? my 4 year old son has been dealing with a scratchy throat all day and the mucinex (guaifenesin) did not work today. we have some codeine that my older son used two years ago. is it okay to administer a small dosage to our 4 year old?

You : You should not give your 4 year old son Codeine for two reasons: - first of all, Codeine does have an expiration date. It the medication was given to you two years ago, then it is almost certainly expired. Almost all medications have an expiration date. You should go through your medicine cabinet every three months and discard any old, unused portions of prescription medications. - second, it is never safe to share prescription medications unless specifically instructed to do so by your doctor. Codeine can be a good pain killer, but can be very dangerous in the wrong doses. Too large of a dose can cause someone to stop breathing. That why many medications are regulated via the prescription system - for safety - and should not be used unless specifically instructed to do so by your doctor. The best (and safest) treatments for a sore throat are: lots of fluids, rest, hot tea with honey and lemon, chicken noodle soup, Ibuprofen or Acetaminophen for pain, and a spoonful of honey for a sore throat. Research shows that these home remedies are as effective and much safer than over the counter medications. If you are concerned about your son's illness, you should call his doctor to discuss the safest and most appropriate treatments.

Advise against: I would not recommend giving codeine. A visit with your Pediatrician or Pediatric Urgent care to have a flu and strep test performed are suggested. If there is no infection, avoid smoke, dust, mold and allergic triggers and have allergy testing performed. Codeine is not advised.