Does Betadine expire? 

Does Betadine expire? 

Yes, Betadine does expire. It usually has a shelf-life of about 1-3 years, depending on how much you have stored the formulation once you have opened it. Betadine is available in solution form and it is added to ointments which are intended to be used topically as an antiseptic agent. 

The formulations indicate that they have more moisture content in them and this is why it is not recommended to use Betadine past its expiration date. 

This is because pharmaceutical preparations with high moisture content can become susceptible to microbial contamination and they usually require good preservatives to prevent that from happening. 

However, if the medication is not properly stored or the expiry date has passed, there is no guarantee that the preservatives would work to their full potential. This is why it’s best to avoid using expired Betadine. 

What are the dangers associated with the use of expired Betadine? 

Using expired Betadine on open minor wounds can be quite dangerous. The entire purpose of this formulation is to clean your cuts and scrapes and to prevent any bacterial invasion that could cause an infection or delay the process of healing. 

If you use an expired antiseptic on your skin, it will not do the job. In fact, if the formulation is not properly stored or is contaminated, you might end up infecting your wound yourself. This is why it’s best to avoid using expired Betadine if it’s past the expiration date (1).

What to do if you have used expired Betadine?

If you have accidentally used expired Betadine on your open cuts or scrapes, wash it away while you can. A single application may not affect you that much, but if you continue to use it, you may end up infecting your wound. 

It’s best to check the expiry date before you apply Betadine to your wounds. If you see symptoms of an allergic reaction on the site of the application, immediately report it to your healthcare provider.

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References

1.-

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Don’t Be Tempted to Use Expired Medicines [Internet]. Silver Spring (MD): U.S. Food and Drug Administration; 2021 [cited 2022 Oct 18]. Available from: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/special-features/dont-be-tempted-use-expired-medicines.