Understanding Expiration Dates: Does Viagra Go Out Of Date?

Viagra, like all medications, has an expiration date. It's important you pay attention to it to ensure your ED medicine remains safe to use and effective at improving your sexual confidence. Our MedExpress experts break down Viagra's shelf life, storage tips and correct drug disposal, to help you stay safe while taking erectile dysfunction treatments.

Article Summary:

• Viagra (sildenafil) is a prescription treatment for erectile dysfunction that improves blood flow to help achieve and maintain erections. It usually has a shelf life of 2 to 3 years.
• The storage guidance is to keep it in its original packaging at a cool temperature, in a dark, dry place (not the bathroom, due to moisture), and never use it past its expiration date as it may be less effective or cause side effects.
• You can dispose of expired Viagra safely by returning it to a pharmacy. Don’t throw it in the bin or flush it, as this can be harmful to the environment.

About Viagra

Viagra is one of the best known prescription drugs for erectile dysfunction. It's a prescription medication that contains the active ingredient sildenafil, which belongs to a group of drugs known as phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors. Viagra is available as a brand-name medication, or you can take generic sildenafil, which is medically exactly the same, but is available at a lower price.

Sildenafil targets the smooth muscles around your blood vessels, allowing them to relax and improve blood flow to your penis when you experience sexual stimulation. [1] This helps you get and maintain erections strong enough for sex. Clinical studies show that around 80% of men report improved erections after taking sildenafil. [2]

Other PDE5 inhibitors include Cialis (tadalafil) and Spedra (avanafil).

You can learn more about treating erectile dysfunction here.

What is Viagra's shelf life?

Generally, Viagra has a shelf life of 2-3 years. Your Viagra tablets should have their expiration date printed on the original packaging, so make sure you keep this for your reference.

Drug expiration dates are worked out through a process called stability testing. Pharmaceutical companies expose drugs to lots of different factors including temperature, light and humidity to see how they affect the quality of the medicine. This gives manufacturers an idea of how a drug might break down with time. The actual shelf life is never fully tested, so it could be longer than the expiry date. That said, you should never take medication past its expiration date to avoid possible adverse effects.

What are the best storage conditions for Viagra?

To ensure Viagra remains safe for use, you should store it in the packaging it came in. Keep your Viagra tablets at room temperature in a cool, dark place, away from direct sunlight and excess moisture or humidity (so don’t keep it in the bathroom). Always follow storage instructions on the packaging.

Can I use expired Viagra?

If the expiration date on your Viagra has passed, we advise you don’t use it. The drug may have started breaking down, which could reduce its strength. This means it might be less effective or work for a shorter period of time compared to unexpired medication. Taking an expired medication could also cause adverse effects.

Remember: You should regularly clear out your medicine cabinet and safely dispose of expired medications.

How to dispose of expired medications

If you have expired Viagra tablets, or any other prescription erectile dysfunction drugs past their expiry date, you should first look at the medicine label to see if it lists any specific disposal instructions. All pharmacies can accept unwanted or expired medications and dispose of them safely. Don’t put unwanted tablets in the bin, and never flush your medications down the toilet, this can be harmful to the environment. [3]

If you have any questions about disposing of expired medications, contact your clinical team or doctor for advice.

Looking to boost your sexual performance?

Start a sexual health consultation to find the right treatment for you. Our clinicians review your medical history and prescribe an effective medication to treat erectile dysfunction.

References

1. Sildenafil: 7 things you should know [Internet]. Drugs.com. Available from: https://www.drugs.com/tips/sildenafil-patient-tips
2. A Burls, Clark W, Gold L, Simpson S. Sildenafil: an oral drug for the treatment of male erectile dysfunction [Internet]. Nih.gov. Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (UK); 2014 [cited 2024 Oct 31]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK67499/
3. NHS. How pharmacies can help [Internet]. nhs.uk. 2024. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/pharmacies/how-pharmacies-can-help/