Can I give my dog Acepromazine past its expiration date?

Question

Is an expiration date that important on medicine for dogs?

Answer 1

Yes, the date means that it might not be as effective after that date.

You can still give it, and it is likely to still work just as well as if it were fresher.



I used to keep some in my first aid/emergency box. My vet said it was still fine, even when it had expired.

Answer 2

Meds get weeker after they expire but, don't let that be a reason to give more the directed.

If you need Acepromazine you should give fresh stuff.



Dogs and Cats



Acepromazine is one of the most commonly used tranquilizers for cats and dogs. It decreases anxiety, causes central nervous system depression, and a drop in blood pressure and heart rate. It may be used in conjunction with atropine as a pre-operative medication for anxiety and for its antidysrhythmic effects. Oral acepromazine may be prescribed to prevent motion sickness, to temporarily reduce itching and scratching due to allergies, or prior to office visits, nail trimming or grooming appointments if the animal is too fractious to handle safely without sedation. Some veterinarians are reluctant to prescribe acepromazine for travel anxiety when the animal may be exposed to temperature extremes, such as during plane travel, or when there may be limited access to veterinary care. Other drugs used for travel anxiety/motion sickness include meclizine, diphenhydramine, and diazepam. Occasionally, animals (particularly cats) may have a paradoxical response to acepromazine and become excited, or aggressive.



What is the need to give this to your animal?

Answer 3

If it was a month of two out of date, you're fine. If it was several years... you could be a horrible person. Expiration dates are based off of the manufacturer tests of the stability of a compound used as the active ingredient in the medication thereby providing a metered dose up to a given time. Expired medications usually are a lower dose of the recommended due to chemical decomposition over time.

Answer 4

Yes it is fine to give. WHat I have learned is that most meds can still be just as good 5 years after the expiration date. It will not hurt them, or us to take expired medications.. Rarely is it even less potent..



The military for instance will use meds up to 5 years after the expiration date. It is still good and not cost effective to toss out hundreds of medications..



http://www.health.harvard.edu/fhg/updates/update1103a.shtml

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/460159

http://www.swedish.org/16822.cfm

Answer 5

PLEASE don't give your dog expired ace. My experience is that it gets WAY stronger after has been expired for a while. We recently gave our dog a quarter of his normal dose (a few years expired) and he was down for the count! I'm talking can't walk and loss of bladder control. My vet had heard this story before. I'm no expert, just my $0.02. Those expiration dates are there for a reason.

Answer 6

Some expiration medicines can get alot stronger and can kill your pet and humans too...SO No, Throw them OUT...



Clowmy

Answer 7

That's an interesting question!

Answer 8

any expired medication is not safely wise to give to anything.

Answer 9

I think so