Does Xanax have an expiration date?

Key takeaways

• Like other prescription medications, Xanax has an expiration date, though the exact shelf life may differ. Drugmakers can’t guarantee safety and potency past this date, and your prescription can also expire.
• Experts advise that you dispose of Xanax as soon as you find out that you don’t need it or it has expired. Options include drug take-back events or mixing Xanax with undesirable substances before discarding it in the trash.
• Xanax prescriptions also expire, generally after 6 months. You cannot get more than five refills in this timeframe, and there may be stricter limitations in some states.

Need a diagnosis or prescription quickly? Optum Perks offers personalized on-demand care in as little as 15 minutes. For $29, answer a few questions online and receive a diagnosis and treatment plan from a US-licensed healthcare professional. Get started here.

Overview

Xanax is the brand name for the generic drug alprazolam. It is a benzodiazepine, a drug class designed to stimulate the activity of certain chemical messengers in your brain to provide sedating, antiseizure, and antianxiety effects.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Xanax for short-term treatment of generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder in adults. 

Some healthcare professionals also prescribe it for off-label uses like treating depression, insomnia, and premenstrual syndrome (PMS). 

Does Xanax come with an expiration date?

Xanax tablets, like all prescription medications, have an expiration date. The FDA requires all drugmakers to provide prescription medications with an expiration date. That expiry date must be based on tests that prove the medication maintains its strength, quality, and purity until this time. 

A drug’s shelf life is the period your medication is safe and potent before reaching the expiration date.

Typically, Xanax’s shelf life is between 2 and 3 years from the manufacturing date, though this may differ. It’s a good idea to always check the medication packaging for the exact expiration date of your specific product. 

To ensure Xanax remains potent and safe during its shelf life, you should store it at 68°F to 77°F. 

A 2021 study gathered data on how households store prescription medication. The research noted how important it is to store all medications away from light and moisture and out of sight and reach of children and pets. 

If you need help covering the cost of medications, the free Optum Perks Discount Card could help you save up to 80% on prescription drugs. Plus, you can now get them delivered to your home in as little as 3 days. Search for your medication here.

What happens if you take expired Xanax?

If you take expired Xanax by mistake, it’s possible that nothing will happen. However, if you experience any unexpected symptoms within 10 to 30 minutes, get prompt medical assistance.

Chemical testing has shown that alprazolam, the active ingredient in Xanax, remains stable if stored at room temperature. This suggests that it’s unlikely that Xanax will break down into harmful substances during proper storage, but this may happen after the expiration date.

What’s more, expired Xanax might become less potent. If you experience anxiety or panic attacks, taking medications with reduced potency can mean your symptoms are not treated in the way the prescribing healthcare professional intended. 

How to dispose of expired Xanax

Experts advise that you dispose of Xanax as soon as you find out that you don’t need it or it has expired. Here’s how:

• Drug take-back options: Hand over expired Xanax to pop-up drug take-back events or permanent collection sites. This ensures that the disposal is safe for people, animals, and the environment. You can locate a nearby collection site on this FDA site. 
• Mix with undesirable substances: If you can’t access any take-back options, the FDA instructs that you mix the Xanax with something undesirable like coffee grounds, dirt, or cat litter. Then, seal it in a bag or container and discard it in the trash. Remove any personal information from the original packaging before discarding it, and do not place it in a recycling bin. 
• Do not flush: Do not flush Xanax down the drain. It’s not on the FDA flush list, which lists the medications you can safely flush down the toilet or drain. 

How long is a Xanax prescription valid?

Xanax is a controlled substance. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) divides controlled substances into schedules depending on factors like risk of dependency. Xanax belongs to the Schedule IV list.

According to federal law, a pharmacist cannot fill a prescription for a Schedule IV medication, like Xanax, more than 6 months after the issue date. You cannot get more than five refills within this timeframe. There may be tighter regulations based on the state you live in.

What to do if your Xanax prescription has expired

If you have a prescription for Xanax that has expired, you cannot fill it. If you think you might need a new prescription, you need to talk with a healthcare professional to get one. 

If you have expired Xanax at home and your healthcare professional has removed it from your treatment plan, you should dispose of it as explained previously.

If you have expired Xanax at home and your healthcare professional still prescribes it for your treatment plan, it’s important that you talk with them, another healthcare professional, or a pharmacist for advice first.

The manufacturer does not guarantee the potency and safety of expired Xanax, so you should not take the expired medication at all unless a healthcare professional approves taking it.

Risks of Xanax and other benzodiazepines

While Xanax can be effective at managing different conditions, its use comes with risks. These include:

• mild side effects like impaired coordination, increased libido (sex drive), and hypotension (low blood pressure)
• serious and potentially life threatening effects if you take it with certain other substances, including opioids, other central nervous system depressants, CYP3A medications, and alcohol. Xanax also interacts with digoxin (Lanoxin), a heart medication.
• possibility of drug misuse and dependence
• serious withdrawal symptoms if you suddenly stop taking it

It’s unclear if taking expired Xanax increases or decreases these risks.

Alternative benzodiazepine drugs that also come with an expiration date may include:

• clonazepam (Klonopin)
• diazepam (Valium)
• lorazepam (Ativan)
• temazepam (Restoril)

Summary

Like other medications, Xanax has an expiration date. The exact shelf life may differ, so it’s important that you always check the product labeling and packaging of the exact product you have. 

Expired Xanax may be less potent and less safe. The Xanax drugmaker does not guarantee its safety after the expiration date. 

Xanax prescriptions also expire, generally after 6 months. You also cannot get more than five refills in this timeframe. There may be stricter limitations in some states.

Consider asking your healthcare professional about the number of refills and validity period of your prescription to get specific information about where you live. Your healthcare professional can also answer any additional questions you might have about Xanax.

Download the free Optum Perks Discount Card to save up to 80% on many prescription medications. Plus, you can now get them delivered to your home in as little as 3 days. Search for your medication here.