Does Cephalexin expire?
By
Dr Milena Locci de Oliveira (PhD)
Author bio
Dr Milena Locci de Oliveira is a Pharmacist and Doctor of Philosophy in Sciences from the University of São Paulo (USP). She has experience in microbiology, analytical toxicology, and clinical pharmacokinetics. She writes and reviews content on these topics.
Dr Milena’s Highlights:
-PhD in Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2019.
-University College London (UCL) – Semester of remote collaboration in the areas of Pharmacometrics and Population Pharmacokinetics, 2018.
-Bachelor in Biochemical Pharmacy, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2013.
“Science can be translated, and it is essential that everyone has access to quality information to make informed decisions” – Dr Milena Oliveira, PhD.
Professional Experience:
With a decade-long career as a researcher, Dr Milena has amassed extensive experience in conducting research projects in microbiology, analytical toxicology, and clinical pharmacokinetics.
Her expertise also extends to the preparation of technical and scientific reports, literature reviews, data analysis, and scientific communication, both oral and written.
Dr Milena has served as a Clinical Pharmacist, providing expert supervision and guidance to teams during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the ICUs of two reference hospitals for patient hospitalization.
In her most recent role, Dr Milena worked on the implementation of the deliberatives of the São Paulo State Government Pharmaceutical Assistance Coordination. These decisions were aimed at ensuring medication access within the Unified Health System.
A widely multidisciplinary background enabled Dr Milena to become a professional capable of integrating scientific knowledge into private initiatives, education, and healthcare, delivering consistent services in patient safety and population health.
Professional Memberships & Affiliations:
Dr Milena Oliveira is a member of the Regional Council of Pharmacy of the State of São Paulo, Brazil.
Education:
-PhD in Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2019.
-University College London (UCL) – Semester of remote collaboration, 2018.
-Bachelor in Biochemical Pharmacy, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2013.
Relevant Published Work & Citations:
Oliveira ML de, Rocha A, Nardotto GHB, Pippa LF, Simões BP, Lanchote VL. Analysis of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in plasma and urine with application in the evaluation of total, renal and metabolic formation clearances in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. Nov 2020. 191:113-124.
Abstracts. CPT: Pharmacometrics & Systems Pharmacology. 2020 Nov; 9 (S1).
Pippa LF, Oliveira ML de, Rocha A, de Andrade JM, Lanchote VL. Total, renal and hepatic clearances of doxorubicin and formation clearance of doxorubicinol in patients with breast cancer: Estimation of doxorubicin hepatic extraction ratio. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. 2020 Jun 5; 185:113-231.
Godoy ALPC, De Jesus C, De Oliveira ML, Rocha A, Pereira MPM, Larangeira DF, Lanchote VL, Barrouin-Melo SM. Determination of Allopurinol and Oxypurinol in Dogs Plasma by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with an Ultraviolet Detector: Application for Pharmacokinetic Studies. J Chromatogr Sep Tech. 2017; 8 (4).
Clímaco EC, Oliveira ML de, Pitondo-Silva A, Oliveira MG, Medeiros M, Lincopan N, et al. Clonal complexes 104, 109 and 113 playing a major role in the dissemination of OXA-carbapenemase-producing Acinetobacter baumannii in Southeast Brazil. Infection, Genetics and Evolution. 2013 Oct;19:127–33.
Conference Papers:
Oliveira, M. L.; NARDOTTO, G. H. B.; PIPPA, L. F.; ROCHA, A.; SIMOES, B. P.; LANCHOTE, V. L. . Daunorubicin metabolism and urinary excretion in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. In: 84th Annual Meeting of the German Society for Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology (DGPT) and the 20th Annual Meeting of the Association of the Clinical Pharmacology Germany (VKliPha), 2018, Göttingen. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg’s Arch Pharmacol, 2018. v. 391. p. S76-S76.
Oliveira, M. L.; NARDOTTO, G. H. B. ; ROCHA, A. ; SIMOES, B. P. ; LANCHOTE, V. L. . The low contribution of urinary excretion in the elimination of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. In: 49th Brazilian Congress of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics., 2017, Ribeirão Preto. Livro de Resumos, 2017. p. 64-64.
Oliveira, M. L.; PIPPA, L. F. ; ROCHA, A. ; SIMOES, B. P. ; LANCHOTE, V. L. . Quantification of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in human plasma by LC-MS/MS. In: I International Meeting of Environmental Health and Toxicology (IMEHTOX), 2016, Ribeirão Preto. Livro de Resumos, 2016.
Oliveira, M. L.; Clímaco, E.C. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Lincopan, N. ; Darini A.L.C. . PFGE typing of Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolated from different University Hospitals. In: V International Postgraduate and Research Symposium, 2012.
Clímaco, E.C. ; SILVA, A. P. ; Oliveira, M. L. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Lincopan, N. ; Darini A.L.C. Relação clonal entre linhagens de Acinetobacter baumannii produtoras de carbapenemases da família OXA em quatro hospitais no Brasil. In: XXI Latin American Congress of Microbiology, 2012, Santos. XXI Latin American Congress of Microbiology, 2012.
Oliveira, M. L.; Clímaco, E.C. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Darini A.L.C. . Dissemintion of OXA carbapenemases genes in carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in University Hospital of Juiz de Fora, MG. In: 8th CIFARP – International Congress of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2011, Ribeirão Preto.
Clímaco, E.C. ; Oliveira, M. L. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Darini A.L.C. . Avaliação do sequenciamento parcial do gene rpoB e de seus flanqueadores para identificação de espécies de Acinetobacter na rotina laroratorial. In: 2° International Symposium on Clinical Microbiology, 2010, Florianópolis.
You can view some of Dr Milena’s work below and links to her professional profile.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dra-milena-locci-de-oliveira-28986042/?locale=en_US
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Milena-Oliveira-6
Escavador: https://www.escavador.com/sobre/5394254/milena-locci-de-oliveira
Lattes: https://buscatextual.cnpq.br/buscatextual/busca.do
Scopus: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57199779361
Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=list_works&hl=pt-BR&user=1YUBDIQAAAAJ
Does Cephalexin expire?
Yes, Cephalexin does expire. If we talk about solid oral dosage form, the drug may have an expiry date of about 3 to 6 years, depending on the preservatives and excipients used by different pharmaceutical manufacturers.
If we talk about liquid oral dosage form, it has a short expiry date. This is because oral liquid dosage forms are more susceptible to microbial contamination because of their physical instability. This antibiotic should not be consumed after it has expired.
It does not necessarily cause toxicity if consumed after it expires, but it may cause therapeutic failure, which is an entire problem on its own, especially when you’re dealing with an active bacterial infection. This is why it is best to avoid expired medication (1).
What are the dangers associated with consuming expired Cephalexin?
Cephalexin is an antibiotic and it needs to be effective enough to help you fight against your active bacterial infection.
If you have consumed an expired medication or you continue to do so, there are changes in some of the complications that may occur in some people, while others may get away with it. Some of the possible complications include:
- Therapeutic failure
- Antibiotic resistance
- An inevitable allergic reaction
- Possible damage to the liver and kidneys
Therapeutic failure
Therapeutic failure is the biggest concern when it comes to using expired Cephalexin. If your antibiotic is not active enough, it will not hinder the growth of infectious bacteria. This will lead to no changes in your condition and the bacteria will continue to thrive.
This can make your infection worse and your symptoms may become more disturbing. This is why it is extremely important to use safe and effective antibiotics to help kill the infection-causing bacteria.
Antibiotic resistance
Antibiotic resistance is another problem that can make you say goodbye to Cephalexin for your entire life. If you continue to take Cephalexin in its effective form, the bacteria may become resistant to the entire chemical structure of the drug.
Experts believe that bacteria evolve to create a stubborn type of resistance against such an antibiotic and no matter how effective the antibiotic you use the next time, it won’t work. Your doctor may need to switch you to another antibiotic.
An inevitable allergic reaction
Another important risk associated with the use of expired Cephalexin is an inevitable allergic reaction. As this antibiotic can become ineffective after its expiry date, the inactivated drug moiety may cause an allergic reaction in your body.
Some of the common symptoms associated with such an allergic reaction include:
- Redness of skin
- Itching
- Burning sensation
- Blue-purple patches
- Tightness of chest or chest pain
- Inability to breathe
- Wheezing
- Hoarseness
- Swelling of lips, tongue, eyes, throat
Possible damage to the liver and kidneys
An expired Cephalexin may end up affecting your liver and kidneys. These two organs are primarily involved in the processes carried out by your body when you take Cephalexin or any other medication.
Not only this but the liver and kidneys help to eliminate the drug from your body as well, as the liver metabolises the drug and the kidney removes it from your body via urine. If the drug affects these two organs, it may become accumulated in the body and cause further damage.
What to do if you have taken an expired Cephalexin tablet?
If you have accidentally consumed an expired Cephalexin tablet, you may not suffer from any significant side effects. However, it is not recommended to take an expired antibiotic, but these meds usually stay fine after 4 to 6 years of their expiry date.
So, if you feel nothing at all after taking an expired Cephalexin, there is nothing to worry about. If you do feel anything, immediately call your medical emergency helpline and seek professional help.
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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 Sep 26]. Available from: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/special-features/dont-be-tempted-use-expired-medicines.
