Is it time to clean out your medicine cabinet? Many prescription medications expire after a year, and many of us keep old medications long after they expire. It is important to keep all medications up to date, and to properly dispose of them. The FDA has guidelines for disposing of medications in a safe manner. The same applies to over the counter medications.
The Drug Enforcement Administration works with local law enforcement and state agencies to sponsor periodic “National Prescription Take Back Drug Days”, which provides a safe, responsible and convenient place to dispose of prescription medications. It also gives these agencies a chance to educate the public about the potential for abuse of certain medications. This is a great way to get dispose of your medications safely.
Some medications that are especially harmful may have specific disposal instructions, such as flushing them down the toilet or down the sink. These medications would be especially harmful and could lead to death if accidentally ingested. The FDA has a list of these medications and you should receive specific instructions when you receive your prescription. An example of a medication that should be flushed would be fentanyl patches that are used for pain.
If your medication does not need to be flushed and you do not have a drug take back program available, most medications can be disposed of in the household trash. The FDA suggests that you use certain precautions. The FDA suggests that you mix the medications with an unpleasant substance such as kitty litter or coffee grounds, and put the mixture in a sealed bag. Do not crush tablets or capsules. If you are disposing of a prescription bottle, always scratch out any personal information on the bottle to protect your personal information.
It is important to take these precautions so that your medications are not accidentally ingested by a pet or small child who accidentally gets into the trash. It is also important to mix the medications with something undesirable to make the medications unrecognizable to people who might go searching through the trash intentionally looking for drugs. It is important to keep your medicine cabinet up to date and properly dispose of any unused and unneeded medications.