Can expired Cialis still work? It may, but more weakly — and it should not be taken. The tadalafil in an old tablet slowly breaks down, so an expired Cialis is likely to be less effective, and healthdirect warns that an out-of-date medicine can also become dangerous as its chemistry changes. The Cialis leaflet says not to use it after the expiry date; return old tablets to a pharmacy, free.
Does Cialis lose strength after the expiry date?
That is the likely result. "Medicines lose their effectiveness over time because they are made up of chemicals that break down as time passes" (healthdirect). The expiry date is the date up to which the maker has shown the tablet keeps its strength when stored as directed; after it, nobody can say how much tadalafil is left.
Is expired Cialis dangerous?
It can be. Out-of-date medicines "may also become dangerous due to a change in their chemical makeup" (healthdirect), and the Australian consumer medicine information says: "Do not use this medicine after the expiry date" (Cialis CMI). There is also a practical risk: a weaker tablet can tempt you to take a second one, and Cialis should not be taken more than once a day.
How should Cialis be stored so it lasts until the expiry date?
Store it below 25°C and keep the tablets in the original pack until it is time to take them (Cialis CMI); the European product information adds that the pack protects them from moisture (EMA). So: not in the bathroom, not in a hot car, not loose in a pill box for weeks. Keep all medicines out of reach of children (healthdirect).
What should you do with expired Cialis?
Return it to your local pharmacy — it is free, and pharmacies dispose of medicines safely in special bins. Do not flush old tablets or throw them in the rubbish: that can be dangerous and harms the environment (healthdirect). (The "mix it with coffee grounds" advice you may read online is American; in Australia, pharmacies take medicines back.)
Does the 36-hour effect have anything to do with expiry?
No — that is about how long one dose works, not how long the pack lasts. Tadalafil stays in the body a long time (its mean half-life is 17.5 hours in healthy men, EMA), which is why Cialis can help you get an erection when sexually stimulated at any time in the 36 hours after a tablet. How it compares with sildenafil is covered in tadalafil vs sildenafil: effectiveness and side effects.
What about expired Viagra?
The same rules apply — see what happens if you take expired Viagra.
The short answer
Expired Cialis is likely to be weaker and could be unsafe, so do not take it; return it to a pharmacy for free disposal, and store your tablets below 25°C in their pack. The ED medicines are compared side by side in our comparisons guide.
