Does Albuterol Expire? Learn How Long Inhalers Last

It can feel like a worst-case scenario: You’re having increased asthma symptoms and are frantically looking through your bedroom for your inhaler. When was the last time you used it anyway? You finally find your inhaler in a drawer, only to realize it's probably been stashed there for more than a year. Now, you have a whole new host of questions. Does albuterol expire? And is it bad to use an expired inhaler? When you’re struggling to breathe and in need of a rescue medication, there’s no time to spend researching the answer. For this reason, it’s essential to know ahead of time about whether expired albuterol works and what happens when you use an expired inhaler.

What is albuterol?

If you’ve ever been diagnosed with asthma, COPD, or reactive airway disease, then you’ve likely heard of the medication known as albuterol. However, you may be wondering what albuterol is and how it can help alleviate symptoms of a breathing condition. Albuterol is a short-acting beta agonist (SABA) medication that helps in an acute breathing crisis by opening up the respiratory passageways. Specifically, albuterol molecules bind to the beta2-adrenergic receptors of the smooth muscle cells of the bronchial tubes, allowing them to relax and reduce the constriction of the bronchioles. This medicine allows for the easier flow of air in and out of the lungs. Taking albuterol during a breathing crisis is akin to releasing your grip on a flexible straw, allowing its internal diameter to expand. Albuterol can be administered in various forms, including through an inhaler device. Because albuterol gets to work quickly, it is often called a “rescue” medication, and albuterol inhalers are often called “rescue inhalers.” When you need a medicine to help you with your breathing, there’s no time to waste—you need it fast, and you need it to be effective. Therefore, it’s vital to know about albuterol expiration and what happens if you use an expired inhaler.

Does albuterol expire?

How long is albuterol good for, and is it okay to use an expired albuterol inhaler? The inquiry at the heart of these questions is important because when you need albuterol urgently, you want to ensure that it works. Oftentimes, albuterol inhalers are used infrequently, on an as-needed basis. For this reason, it’s common to lose track of how long you’ve been using a particular inhaler. The majority of albuterol inhalers expire one year after you remove them from their packaging and begin using them. Luckily, there are a few handy ways to track if your albuterol inhaler has expired.

• Keep an eye on the counter: Most albuterol inhalers will come with a counter. This numerical countdown displays how many doses are left (it reduces by one dose each time you press down on the canister, regardless of whether you actually inhale the medication). Once your albuterol inhaler has reached the maximum number of doses, the counter will display “0.” When you press down on the canister after the counter has reached zero, you may still find that some aerosol is released. While it’s tempting to think that this residual spray represents remaining medication, it’s just a chemical propellant, and it will not help open up your airway.
• Check the manufacturer’s packaging: The outer packaging of your inhaler should display its expiration date. When opening your inhaler for the first time, it may be helpful to record this date somewhere, such as inputting the expiration date into your phone’s calendar or setting a reminder for one year out.
• Check the expiration date listed on the device itself: If you’ve already ditched the outer packaging of your inhaler, all is not lost. You can still check the expiration date of the device, which is usually printed on the canister itself.

What happens if you use expired albuterol for a nebulizer?

Can you use expired albuterol? If you’re accustomed to using albuterol with a nebulizer and discover that the vials have expired, you may wonder how long a nebulizer solution is good for after its expiration date. The main risk of using expired albuterol after its listed expiration date is that it may not be as potent or effective. When you are in the midst of a breathing crisis, the strength and effectiveness of your rescue medication matters. While it may be safe to use the expired albuterol, you may also be putting yourself at risk of receiving a dose that is insufficient to control your symptoms, which may put you at risk of having a worsening of your condition. However, if you are in a pinch and the only albuterol available is an expired form, then it is safe to use and certainly better than not using any medication at all.

Does expired albuterol work?

How long does albuterol last, and does expired albuterol work? While it’s always best practice to use medications within their manufacturer’s recommended period, you may be surprised to learn that recent research has shown that albuterol inhalers do maintain their potency after their expiration date. Researchers who conducted an evaluation of several different albuterol inhaler products wrote that “nearly all albuterol products retained more than 90% of their listed strength for more than 15 years post-expiration.”

How to safely store and dispose of albuterol

Does albuterol go bad? Part of maximizing your albuterol inhaler’s potency, and ensuring that it is not expired or compromised when you need it most, is knowing how to store the medication properly. Albuterol should be stored out of direct sunlight, at room temperature, and in low-humidity conditions. For example, the bathroom is not a suitable place to store your albuterol inhaler, nor is the glove compartment of your car, where it is more likely to be exposed to extreme temperatures. When you’ve used all the doses of your inhaler, or the albuterol expiration date has been reached, then it’s equally important to dispose of the inhaler safely. Because albuterol is in a pressurized canister, it’s not a good idea to throw it away in the regular garbage. The canister can explode if punctured or exposed to high heat. If it explodes, it can release hazardous chemicals. Instead, ask your physician’s office, pharmacy, or local hospital about options for safe medication disposal. Or, you can do a little research about drug take-back events in your community.

FAQs

Can you use expired nebulizer solution?

Yes, if you aren’t able to access a nebulizer solution that hasn’t expired, it’s okay to use albuterol sulfate inhalation solution that has expired. Generally, when you are reaching for albuterol, it’s because you’re having trouble breathing, so it’s better to use an expired solution than no solution at all.

Do inhalers expire?

Yes, inhalers expire. You can check the manufacturer’s packaging or the date printed on the canister itself for the listed expiration date. Generally, inhalers are deemed by manufacturers to be acceptable until this date, or until it has been 12 months since the inhaler was removed from the packaging—whichever comes first.

Can an expired inhaler harm you?

So, can you use an expired inhaler? Yes. You can safely use an inhaler that has been stored in proper conditions past its expiration date. However, if the inhaler has run out of medication (the counter is at zero) or it is so far past its date that it is less potent, using an expired inhaler can harm you because you may not get proper symptom relief.

What to do if your albuterol expired 3 years ago?

If your albuterol expired 3 years ago and you are in a pinch, meaning that you need a rescue medication fast, it is okay to use the medication. The medication is still safe to use—however, it might not be as strong. If a new or unexpired option is available, it is preferable to use this route.

What to do if your inhaler expired 5 years ago?

If your inhaler expired five years ago, but you are in a breathing crisis, it is okay to try the medication. However, you should only do this if you have no other option immediately available. After the breathing crisis has passed, be sure to contact your healthcare provider to obtain a prescription refill.

Where to find the albuterol expiration date?

You can find the albuterol sulfate inhaler expiration date in two places. First, it should be printed on the manufacturer’s packaging—the original wrapper. Second, it should also be printed on the albuterol canister itself. If you can’t find either, then you can always check your medical records portal to get a ballpark estimate of when it was last prescribed.

What to do if you only have expired albuterol?

Can I use expired albuterol? If you only have expired albuterol available and you’re having a hard time breathing, it’s okay to go ahead and use an expired inhaler. Is it bad to use an expired inhaler? Not necessarily. The medication may still retain some of its potency. However, it’s always best to use a new or unexpired inhaler if it’s available.

What happens if a person uses an inhaler without asthma?

If a person uses an inhaler without asthma, they may experience side effects of the medication. For example, using an albuterol inhaler without asthma can cause you to feel jittery, nervous, or anxious. It is always a good idea to stick to the medications that have been prescribed specifically for you, and not to share medications with others. Libby Pellegrini is a nationally certified physician assistant. She currently works in emergency medicine, where she sees and treats a broad spectrum of illnesses across all age ranges. She holds a journalism degree from Northwestern University.

References:

https://www.poison.org/articles/albuterol-use-and-safety-considerations#:~:text=Albuterol%2C%20like%20most%20medications%2C%20does,pharmacy%20and%20its%20first%20use.

https://www.fda.gov/drugs/disposal-unused-medicines-what-you-should-know/drug-disposal-drug-take-back-options

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844022013925