old medications
PrairieMom wrote: Anyone know how to get rid of old medications? I know you aren't supposed to flush them, I want to get rid of them in a way that is safe. I have been hanging onto them for forever because I have no idea what to do with them! my pharmacy won't take them back anymore.
coasterqueen replied: Oh gosh, I just recently heard what to do with them but now I'm drawing a blank.  I guess I'm no help.  I need to do the same. Right now I have all my old meds in a big tub up in the very top of my master bath closet. 
stella6979 replied: I found this.
There are several options. The first is to contact your pharmacy. Many pharmacies now have drug recycling programs in place. Some take it back at any time, others hold periodic drives to collect expired medicine. Either way, they'll take back your expired medication and see to it that they're disposed of in the proper manner. If your pharmacist doesn't take back your old drugs, he or she may have an alternate recommendation. If he or she has no advice, call around. Another pharmacy in your area might take expired medicine.
Another option is to take any old pills and pulverize them. Return them to their child-safe container and place the container inside several thick zip lock plastic bags or a thick plastic container. This can now be tossed into the household trash. There are several problems with this method, however. Many people don't like to waste their bags and containers. Plastic doesn't always degrade so easily if at all. In addition, there's still a chance the medicine can leak out and present a hazard. Besides, one thing we don't need is more landfill.
Since expired medicine is considered hazardous waste, it stands to reason it should be disposed as such. Contact your local hazardous waste facility to see its recommendations. If your city or town has a website, there are probably instructions on how to dispose of hazardous waste. See if medicine is listed. If it is, you can either bring it to the hazardous waste site or set it out for pick up on the designated date. Even if nothing is listed on the website, you can call the facility to either see if this is something it handles, or if it has a recommendation.
Lastly, there are organizations that donate expired medicine to third world countries. Even though your medicine may have expired, it may still be good long past the printed date. (Only professionals can determine this.) Rather than have it waste away in your medicine cabinet, why not donate it where it will be put to good use? An internet search will provide you with such organizations
boyohboyohboy replied: I just saw this on Dr OZ yesterday! he said call your pharmacy and most of them will take them back, or he said to dispose of them in small amounts at a time in like old glass jars or cat litter..
PrairieMom replied:
 yeah, I'm not doing that. "Plastic doesn't always degrade so easily"  try doesn't degrade.
I was hoping to avoid calling. So far my answers have been flush them, flush them, or mix them with coffee grounds or kitty litter and toss them.  How does THAT keep them from leaching into the ground?! plus, I have no kitty, and I am off coffee. 
BabyOwen427 replied: I'm not saying you should do this, but when I worked at a pharmacy the pharmicist would have me document the pills then flush them. She said it's not what you're sposed to do but it is increadibly expensive to send them to whoever the disposal people are. For my personal pills at home I just toss them in the trash. Although I suppose you could toss them in a fire, that would keep them out of landfills and sewers.
coasterqueen replied: I thought I heard somewhere it's just as unsafe to flush them.
moped replied: Yeah, burn them!
boyohboyohboy replied:
In my 15yrs as a nurse when we dispose of meds at work, narcotics, we count them and flush them..I cant tell you how many pills I have flushed over these years...
stella6979 replied:
Kinda figured....I just copied and pasted what was there. 
coasterqueen replied:
Hmm, I'll have to see where I read that at.
coasterqueen replied:
Well maybe you are only flushing meds that are on the list the FDA recommends flushing. Otherwise if you are flushing others, I'd seriously be questioning someone on this.
There are a ton of sites out there that are against flushing them down the drain/toilet. EPA recommends against it. Here is the FDA's website link on what to do with them:
http://www.fda.gov/drugs/resourcesforyou/c...s/ucm186187.htm
"It is important to note that disposal by flushing is not recommended for the vast majority of medicines. Unused or expired medicines that do not have flushing directions in the label can be disposed of safely in the household trash by:
1. Mixing them with something that will hide the medicine or make it unappealing, such as kitty litter or used coffee grounds.
2. Placing the mixture in a container such as a sealed plastic bag.
3. Throwing the container in your household trash.
Below is some additional information about the disposal of medicine that is no longer needed. If you have additional questions about disposing of your medicine, please contact us at 1-888-INFO-FDA (1-888-463-6332)."
They only recommend flushing a small portion of meds that the list is on the link, otherwise they recommend AGAINST flushing them.
coasterqueen replied: Tara,
Here is an article regarding why not to flush and how to dispose of that you might find interesting as a "green" person.
http://about-green-living.com/dont-flush-y...own-the-toilet/
HTH!
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