Does Penicillin Go Bad?

There is one important exception to this: antibiotics, especially those in the penicillin, cephalosporin and tetracycline classes. These should not be used beyond the expiration date, since they can decompose and become inactivated even in a solid form. The FDA is very conservative with expirations dates.

How long does penicillin stay good for?

Capsules and tablets

Depending on the manufacturer, the stock bottles will typically carry an expiration date of two to three years. However, pharmacists commonly make the expiration date on your prescription about one year — as long as that fits into the expiration time on their stock bottle.

What happens if you take penicillin that's expired?

Expired medicines can be risky

Certain expired medications are at risk of bacterial growth and sub-potent antibiotics can fail to treat infections, leading to more serious illnesses and antibiotic resistance. Once the expiration date has passed there is no guarantee that the medicine will be safe and effective.