nick1990 Posted February 26, 2019 Share Posted February 26, 2019 After doing some research on the topic, it seems unclear whether or not the expiry dates on SSRI drugs are actually when the drug expires or a completely made up concept created by the manufacturers. Articles I have read state that many drugs are still good for another decade after their supposed “expiry date”. I’m not jumping to any conclusions here but am more interested in what some of you think. Im planning a generic switch of citalopram in April, but only as my current generic expires in May this year. I still have enough of the drug to last until the end of this year! I’m currently in the end phase of my recovery from a little crash I had 5 months ago and am just starting to gain stability. I would rather not throw a generic switch into the equation just as my system is settling. However if the expiry date is to be taken seriously, then I will switch to the new generic. Hopefully without any issues. What do the chemist experts on this forum think ? I appreciate your time ! Started Citalopram in 2005 (aged 15) for apparent "OCD" - 60mg July 2015 attempted 2 x 10% + cuts 4 weeks apart. WD symptoms intense at times. Need to slow down. November 2016 - Resumed taper. 1.25 - 1.5% decrease weekly approx. 44.5mg November 2016. Jan 2017 42.5 mg. March 2017 40 mg. June 2017 37mg. September 2018 22mg. Nov 2018 Holding at 22mg to stabilise from moderate wave. January 2020 - Holding, mostly feeling fine, but still having some waves at times. February 2020 - Resumed taper , 1.5% reduction weekly/every two weeks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Emeritus ChessieCat Posted February 26, 2019 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted February 26, 2019 It wouldn't surprise me that the tablet form of drugs are still fully usable well after their expiry date. But as a I said to another member recently. If it is going to cause you anxiety because you are concerned about whether you are still getting a full dose of the drug, then it is better to use tablets that have not passed the expiry date. My Pristiq tablets are within the use by date. However, once they are compounded the pharmacist is required to state that they should be discarded after 6 months. He has told me not to worry about that and to keep using them. * NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA * MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: (6 year taper) 0mg Pristiq on 13th November 2021 ADs since ~1992: 25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq: 50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity) Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021 LAST DOSE 0.0025mg Post 0 updates start here My tapering program My Intro (goes to tapering graph) VIDEO: Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick1990 Posted February 27, 2019 Author Share Posted February 27, 2019 That’s interesting Chessie about what the compounding pharmacy said. I know that there are some members on here , maybe moderators who have professional experience with chemistry. If your out there, please chime in with your opinion. thanks! Started Citalopram in 2005 (aged 15) for apparent "OCD" - 60mg July 2015 attempted 2 x 10% + cuts 4 weeks apart. WD symptoms intense at times. Need to slow down. November 2016 - Resumed taper. 1.25 - 1.5% decrease weekly approx. 44.5mg November 2016. Jan 2017 42.5 mg. March 2017 40 mg. June 2017 37mg. September 2018 22mg. Nov 2018 Holding at 22mg to stabilise from moderate wave. January 2020 - Holding, mostly feeling fine, but still having some waves at times. February 2020 - Resumed taper , 1.5% reduction weekly/every two weeks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubbles Posted August 29, 2019 Share Posted August 29, 2019 On 2/27/2019 at 6:14 AM, ChessieCat said: My Pristiq tablets are within the use by date. However, once they are compounded the pharmacist is required to state that they should be discarded after 6 months. He has told me not to worry about that and to keep using them. Hi ChessieCat All of my meds are compounded these days. They always have a six month expiry date on them, and come in capsule form. How do yours come and have you notice a difference toward the end of the dates? 2005 St John's Wort / 2006-2012 Lexapro 20mg, 2 failed attempts to stop, tapered over 4.5 months in early 2012 January 2013 started Sertraline, over time worked up to 100mg July 2014 Sertraline dropped from 100mg to 75mg, held for six months, slower tapering until 2019 22 Dec 3.2mg 2020 Sertraline 19 Jan 3.1mg, 26 Jan 3.0mg; 1 Mar 2.9, 7 Mar 2.8, May (some drops here) 24 May 2.5, May 29 2.4, June 21 2.3, June 28 2.2mg, July 4 2.1mg, July 24 (or maybe a bit before) 2mg, early Nov switched to home made suspension; 29 Nov 1.8mg; approx 25 Dec 1.6mg) 2021 Some time in about Jan/Feb realised probably on more like 1.8mg and poss mixing error in making suspension; doses after 10 Feb accurate; 10 Feb 1.6mg; 7 Mar 1.4, continued monthly 10% drops until 1mg, then dropped 0.1mg monthly. May 2022,0.1mg, now dropping 0.01mg per week 29 August 2022 - first day of zero! My thread here at SA: https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/1775-bubbles/page/21/ Current: Armour Thyroid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Emeritus ChessieCat Posted August 29, 2019 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted August 29, 2019 Hi bubbles, My compounding pharmacist told me that they are required to put a 6 month expiry on the label but that I don't need to worry about it. * NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA * MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: (6 year taper) 0mg Pristiq on 13th November 2021 ADs since ~1992: 25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq: 50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity) Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021 LAST DOSE 0.0025mg Post 0 updates start here My tapering program My Intro (goes to tapering graph) VIDEO: Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubbles Posted August 30, 2019 Share Posted August 30, 2019 Hi @ChessieCat, I'll ask for more information next time. 2005 St John's Wort / 2006-2012 Lexapro 20mg, 2 failed attempts to stop, tapered over 4.5 months in early 2012 January 2013 started Sertraline, over time worked up to 100mg July 2014 Sertraline dropped from 100mg to 75mg, held for six months, slower tapering until 2019 22 Dec 3.2mg 2020 Sertraline 19 Jan 3.1mg, 26 Jan 3.0mg; 1 Mar 2.9, 7 Mar 2.8, May (some drops here) 24 May 2.5, May 29 2.4, June 21 2.3, June 28 2.2mg, July 4 2.1mg, July 24 (or maybe a bit before) 2mg, early Nov switched to home made suspension; 29 Nov 1.8mg; approx 25 Dec 1.6mg) 2021 Some time in about Jan/Feb realised probably on more like 1.8mg and poss mixing error in making suspension; doses after 10 Feb accurate; 10 Feb 1.6mg; 7 Mar 1.4, continued monthly 10% drops until 1mg, then dropped 0.1mg monthly. May 2022,0.1mg, now dropping 0.01mg per week 29 August 2022 - first day of zero! My thread here at SA: https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/1775-bubbles/page/21/ Current: Armour Thyroid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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