“What is the shelf life of Viagra?” is a question that deserves serious answers. There is, after all, the potential danger that comes with taking expired medications. Aside from that, issues with potency may also arise.
Well, this guide answers that and other related queries to guide you on how to take the little blue pill properly.
What Is the Shelf Life of Viagra?
Viagra is the brand name of Sildenafil. Sildenafil tablets such as BlueChew have a recommended expiration date of two years after the manufacture date. However, this date is reliable only if they are correctly stored (1).
So, how long does it last? The question can be answered more fully by discussing other concerns, such as why drugs expire, how to tell when a drug will expire, and so on.
Why Do Drugs Expire?
Drugs are considered to be expired when they are no longer effective or safe for consumption. The components of the drug may decompose or lose their strength over time—especially if they are exposed to things like sunlight, heat, freezing temperatures, moisture, oxygen, and chemicals (2).
Can You Take Expired Viagra?
The typical shelf life of pharmaceutical products is claimed to be somewhere between one to five years (3). Aside from that, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Shelf Life Extension Program (SLEP) discovered that some drugs retain 90% stability even after 30 years past the expiration date (4).
According to the SLEP data, many kinds of drugs can be extended past their expiration dates if they are correctly stored. Improper storage may cause the medicine to degrade more quickly and lose its potency or become unsafe for consumption.
Thus, Viagra needs to be protected from light, heat, dust, and humidity and be out of children’s reach (5).
How Can You Know Viagra’s Expiry Date?
Drug manufacturers are required to stamp the best before dates on their products. You will find the expiry date of Viagra on the box or the foil sheets. If you can’t find the date of expiration, look for the date of manufacture and count two years after that.
If you can’t find the date, you can ask the pharmaceutical company or manufacturer of the product you obtained what the expiration date is. You may have to provide a reference such as the Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) or bar code.
How Can You Extend Viagra’s Shelf Life?
Again, improper storage may cause the medicine to degrade more quickly and lose its potency or become unsafe for consumption. Thus, Viagra needs to be protected from light, heat, dust, and humidity and be out of children’s reach to be considered safe and effective (6).
The leaflet for Sildenafil itself says that it does not require special conditions for storage, but to get the most out of the drug, general guidelines for drug storage must be followed. The instructions also mention avoiding taking medicine past the given expiration date.
What Are the Side Effects of Expired Viagra?
As mentioned, expired medication may still work and be safe to take, but it may not be as effective when it is still new. This may cause Viagra not to work as long or as strong as it should.
Just the same, watch out for any unusual or unpleasant symptoms. Things to look out for are the following:
- Itchiness
- Rashes
- Facial flushing (reddish appearance of the face)
- Sneezing
- Warmth
- Tingly feeling
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Sneezing
- Runny nose
- Sleeping problems
- Back pains
- Muscle pains
- Stomach upset
- Diarrhea
- Abnormal vision
Seek immediate medical help if you experience any of these:
- Vomiting
- Vision loss
- Hearing loss
- Numbness
- Chills
- Chest pain
- Difficulty breathing
- Rapid heartbeat
- Confusion
- Loss of bodily coordination
- Intense pain
- Fainting
Severe side effects are rare but may still happen. Do not ignore these, thinking that you aren’t that unlucky to experience them firsthand. If you notice any signs that they’re manifesting, go to the nearest hospital to receive appropriate interventions.
How to Take Viagra Safely
It’s essential to acquire Viagra from a reliable manufacturer and seller to avoid taking defective products.
There is a danger of acquiring fake Viagra that contains other ingredients that may be toxic or ineffective. There may also be products that have Sildenafil but in lesser amounts than what was stated in the description.
If there is no expiry date on the product, it may be counterfeit or tampered. To be safe, do not use the item and discard it right away. Research the seller’s reputation before buying Viagra or any other drug. Your doctor may be able to recommend where to buy genuine Viagra.
Although it is possible to buy Viagra without a doctor’s prescription, it is still best to know about how to take it properly. You shouldn’t take the blue pill if you have severe medical conditions like diseases of the heart, liver, kidney, and thyroid.
Viagra should be taken with caution by those who have cardiac failures and had a recent stroke or heart attack. It should not be used with medications containing nitrates, such as blood pressure-lowering drugs (7).
It is also best to take the right amounts of Sildenafil. Taking too much may cause the unpleasant side effects mentioned above. Do not take Viagra when you are already taking other kinds of erectile dysfunction, drug, or PDE5 inhibitors like tadalafil or vardenafil.
What’s Viagra’s Shelf Life? Better Safe than Sorry
Like with all other medications, Viagra has a stamped expiry date that may be earlier than its actual expiry date. However, it is best to take it before this date to get the most out of the drug.
And as we’ve discussed, here are some other things to do if you are concerned about the pill’s shelf life:
- Buy from a reputable seller
- Ask the seller or manufacturer if the date is not available
- Store properly by sealing it tightly and putting it somewhere cool, dry, and dark but not freezing
- Watch out for strange symptoms and seek help when necessary
Did this answer your question of “What is the shelf life of Viagra?” completely? If not, feel free to ask additional questions in the comments section below.
Originally posted 2024-01-19 12:15:00.