What should you do if a medication is expired?

• A. Administer; replace from stock; inform medical direction as required.
• B. Do not administer; replace from stock; inform medical direction as required.
• C. Ignore.
• D. Re-check later.

Answer: (B)

Expiration dates reflect how long a medication is expected to remain potent and stable. Using an expired drug can mean it won’t achieve the intended therapeutic effect, and in some cases degradation products could pose risks. Because of that, you should not administer an expired medication. Instead, remove it from use, replace it with an unexpired stock dose, and inform medical direction as required by your protocol so proper replacement and documentation can be completed. This approach protects patient safety and keeps your inventory compliant. Regularly check stock and rotate supplies to minimize expired medications.