Yahoo Autos Does Plan B expire? Yes, and it may be less effective if you take it
Plan B has an expiration date of about four years.
Taking expired Plan B is not dangerous, but it may be less effective in preventing pregnancy.
To prolong the life of Plan B, keep the pill away from humid, hot, or bright environments.
Plan B is a form of emergency contraception that prevents unwanted pregnancies after having unprotected sex. Plan B is most effective when taken within 72 hours and works to prevent pregnancy by delaying ovulation.
Because plan B is most effective when taken as soon as possible after engaging in unprotected sex, some people like to keep it on hand. However, it's important to keep in mind that Plan B does expire.
Yes, Plan B does expire
Plan B expires after about four years, says Melissa Sörgel, a licensed pharmacist at OTC Beratung in Germany. Once the expiration date passes, the company that manufactures Plan B is no longer liable for any side effects or other issues.
"However, the drug is not completely ineffective after the expiration date," says Sörgel. "Although, it may no longer be fully effective. It is advisable to not use an expired pill in order to avoid the risk of a pregnancy."
Important: The expiration date is printed on the left side of each container of Plan B.
The expiration date does not change even if you've opened the pill, but decide not to use it, says Sörgel. However, you should keep plan B in the original box even after opening to protect the pill from the light, which could damage it, she says.
Other birth controls, such as Ella, have a slightly shorter shelf life at three years, says Sörgel.
