The expiry date of a medication denotes the date after which it may not be as effective or could be unsafe to use,” explains Goncalves. “With this in mind, using medicine before the expiry date is theoretically safe, but I would not personally recommend it. “This is especially the case for critical medicines, such as those used to treat chronic conditions or conditions affecting key organs. Using medicine that is close to expiry in these cases can pose serious health risks. Always consult a pharmacist or doctor to be on the safe side.”