Health - Expired Benzodiazepines

[Skate or Cry]

Hey everyone,
My friend was prescribed Alprazolam(Xanax), and he doesn't use them, so he gave SWIM what he had left. They were supposed to be discared on 5/31/2006, but SWIM figures they will still work.

What SWIM was wondering was if it's safe to blow a few of these pills? They are .25mg, so SWIM was thinking about blowing maybe 2. Does anyone know if it's safe to do this, and if it will have any good effects? SWIM doesn't often blow pills, but he'd like to try it out with these.

So if anyone can tell me if it's safe to blow these, and if they'll still work properly after their expiration, he would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks guys.

[Isochrist]

The pills should still work fine long after their expiration date.

I'm not sure what you mean by blow, if you mean insufflate (snort) them, then SWIM would consider that a waste. From what SWIM has read, most benzodiazapines aren't very soluble in water, and so a lot of it would be wasted going about it that way.

[GreatWonder]

SWIG would consider a 0.5mg dosing (orally) of Xanax to be a fairly low-risk for someone with no tolerance to benzos.

With regard to whether SWIY will experience any "good effects", that really depends on what SWIY considers good. A .5mg Xanax for SWIG induces a fairly calm state, bit sluggish in the legs and without enough stimulation a tendency to want to fall asleep. If that's a good time for SWIY then they probably won't be disappointed.

[Skate or Cry]

What if SWIM were to blow(insufflate) 1-2mg of Alprazolam? He wants to get a good high out of it rather than just feeling sluggish.

[Wyborowa]

If SWIY "blows" them, you'll be wasting it. the drug will slowly drip down swiy's throat and slowly get in your system, it will not cross the blood brain membrane and therefore it is inefficient to snort them..

take them orally or rectally. the latter gives one the most bang for there buck.

[GreatWonder]

Originally Posted by Skate or Cry

What if SWIM were to blow(insufflate) 1-2mg of Alprazolam? He wants to get a good high out of it rather than just feeling sluggish.

SWIY should surely not be taking Alprazolam for a high, benzos are downers.

[pickledsheep]

Anyone have any experience with expired benzos, particularily lorazepam? They have expired 2 years ago, to the month.

They would be used only in the occurence of a bad trip, at a dosage of either 0.5mg to 1mg.

What is the likely outcome of expiring, and the worst case scenario. Toxic unpleasant effects? Or loss of potency?

[fnord]

IMHO loss of potency,they shouldent degrade into anything nasty but im no chemist.

[ryanc]

SWIM's friend found some alprazolam that is from 1999, and is wondering if it'd still be any good? Most likely not, but why not give it a shot.

[rocksmokinmachine]

The "use by date" is probably well expired, but SWIY might aswell give it a shot.

[seekupdreamgirl]

SWIM is very interested in the results of this post. Are there any updates? Bump...

SWIM would ask other members to share wisdom on this topic if possible.

SWIM has taken ambien 1 yr after use date (2 yrs after Rx was picked up) and had a good nights sleep. SWIM has no knowledge on shelf life.

What would be the determining factors on loss of potency and what contributes to that loss specifically with the benzos.

Very many thanks.

[olechka]

loss of potency is easy to check, just take one and see the effect, but swim's really worried about if it can be toxic