Although taking expired ibuprofen is not recommended by the manufacturer, the actual shelf-life is likely to be longer than that indicated by the expiry date, although without further testing there is no way to know this for sure. Within reason, an ibuprofen tablet that is 6 months past its expiry is probably safe to take. Ibuprofen that is 1 to 2 years past its expiry date should not be taken.

Pharmaceutical companies are required by law to put an expiry date on their products, and ibuprofen is no exception. This is the period that the manufacturer can guarantee the product remains stable for without deteriorating, and that it will work safely and as expected.

It can be expensive to test how long a medication can remain stable, and there is no financial incentive for companies to extend the shelf life of their product. Manufacturers are allowed to choose a time frame from 12 months to 5 years to test the stability of their drug, and once testing has shown it retains its potency for that length of time, then that expiry date can be stamped on the bottle or foil strip. So this does not mean that the product doesn’t last for longer, it's just that they haven’t tested it to see if it lasts longer.

While ibuprofen may be okay to take a few months past its expiry date, taking it more than 6 months past its expiry date cannot be recommended. For some medications, such as antibiotics, epinephrine, insulin, nitroglycerin, and pharmacy-compounded products, the expiry date is critical and must be followed, otherwise, the product will not work as intended which may prove fatal.

What happens if you take expired ibuprofen?

The most likely outcome of taking expired ibuprofen is that it will not work because it has lost its potency (strength) with time. Ibuprofen does expire with time which is why ibuprofen products have an expiry date on them.

Medications, such as ibuprofen, can also become unsafe past their expiry date due to a breakdown in their chemical structure. This is particularly true if they have not been stored properly such as being exposed to extreme heat or light. All medications contain active and inactive ingredients, and with time, or adverse storage conditions, these can become unstable, and convert to other substances that may pose a risk to your health.

There is also a risk to some medicines from contamination due to the container they are stored in, especially if the container is made of plastic. Plastic is broken down by UV radiation through a process called photodegradation, and by oxidation and friction. Small bits of plastic lining the inside of your container can contaminate old ibuprofen tablets.

Can expiry dates be extended?

It is possible to extend the expiry date on some products with further testing. The U.S. government operates the Shelf Life Extension Program (SLEP) (established in 1986) and manufacturers can apply for an extension to their expiry date based on acceptable data from stability studies that are completed by following an approved NDA protocol.

The Government regularly extends expiry dates for medications that have been stockpiled in the interests of military and civilian health. This avoids the need to replace entire stockpiles every few years at significant expense if testing reveals product stability beyond their labeled shelf life.