It was 1998 when the world first knew of Viagra, the little blue pill that was out to change the world, or at least the lives of men who have erectile dysfunction (1).
Since then, Viagra became part of pop culture as one of the most popular tablets that are not only for men with erection problems but also for those who are looking to improve their performance in bed.
Viagra is a prescription-only drug, which could be a problem for some people since they can’t just go to a pharmacy and buy it over-the-counter.
But if you’re one of those who are prescribed Viagra, but you haven’t gone through them right away, you could be wondering if there is a thing as expired Viagra and how long exactly does Viagra last.
Here’s what you should know:
- Viagra becomes less effective after some time.
Pharmacies typically recommend taking the medication within a year of prescription because it could become less effective after that due to the molecular breakdown in its active ingredient Sildenafil (2).
Most pharmaceutical products, however, have a shelf life between one to five years (3), although some drugs can keep 90% of their stability for as long as 30 years after their expiration date was given that they are properly stored, according to the Food and Drug Administration Shelf Life Extension Program (SLEP) (4).
To correctly store Viagra, it has to be away from dust, heat, and humidity and should be out of children’s reach.
- You can find expiration dates on the packaging.
All drug manufacturers are required to put best before dates on all their products. With Viagra, you can find the expiration date both on the box and the foil sheets.
But in instances where the expiration date has been wiped out, you can look for the manufacturing date and count two years after that.
You can also send a message to the manufacturer with the Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) or bar code to know whether you have an expired Viagra or not.
- There have been no reported side effects of taking expired Viagra.
Some people have mistakenly taken expired Viagra and reported no side effects. This is because the potency of the drug has already lessened due to molecular breakdown.
So you can expect no side effects from taking expired Viagra except for those that already come with taking the drug itself. This doesn’t mean, however, that you should just take expired Viagra, especially if you’re known to have a severe reaction to a full dose.
- You can extend the shelf life of Viagra.
Like most drugs, improper storage can cause Viagra to be less effective and even unsafe for consumption. So if you want your medication to last longer, you must store it in a place away from direct sunlight, humidity, heat, and dust.
You can also read the leaflet that comes with the box to learn more about properly storing Viagra.
Aside from reading the expiration date of Viagra after buying it, you should also buy only from a reputable seller or pharmacy where you can guarantee that you are buying authentic Viagra.
With the popularity of the drug, there have been a lot of expired Viagra and fake Viagra on the black market. Upon taking the first tablet, observe for any signs of a reaction and stop taking the drug if you feel anything strange.
Of course, it’s still essential to consult with a doctor before taking Viagra to know if it’s right for you or not.
