Why shouldn't expired medications be administered?

Administering expired medications is discouraged primarily because they may be ineffective or potentially harmful. Over time, the chemical composition of medications can change, leading to a decrease in potency, which means the medication may not provide the intended therapeutic effect. Additionally, certain expired medications can undergo degradation that may result in the formation of harmful byproducts, potentially causing adverse reactions in patients.

The notion that expired medications could be more effective than non-expired counterparts is misleading and does not align with standard medical knowledge. Furthermore, while allergic reactions can occur with any medication, the risk of unforeseen allergens is less directly associated with expiration status than the risks related to efficacy and safety. Altered taste or smell can be factors to consider, especially for certain formulations, but they do not carry the same level of concern for patient safety as the possibility of diminished effectiveness or increased harm. Thus, the most critical reason for avoiding expired medications lies in the potential risk they pose to a patient's health.