Are there risks in using expired lipitor?

What happens to Lipitor once it passes its expiration date?
Expired Lipitor loses potency over time. The active ingredient, atorvastatin, begins to degrade, so patients may receive less cholesterol-lowering effect than expected. Studies show that many drugs retain acceptable potency for years past expiration, but this does not guarantee safety or effectiveness for Lipitor specifically.

Can expired Lipitor cause harm?
The FDA states that using expired medication carries a risk of reduced effectiveness and possible chemical breakdown. For statins such as atorvastatin, degradation may produce unknown by-products. These changes could affect side-effect rates or clinical outcomes, but published data on exact risks for expired Lipitor remain limited. [1]

How long does Lipitor stay stable beyond its printed date?
Stability data for past-expiration Lipitor are scarce. General drug stability research shows that tablets stored in cool, dry conditions can keep 90 percent of labeled strength for months or years after expiration, but each lot varies. Patients who find old bottles should not assume the table