It’s good news when your loved one can switch to a lower dose of a drug or quit a medication altogether. But what should you do with the unwanted pills, patches, or inhalers? Children and pets need to be protected from potentially fatal exposure. Yet chucking everything into the toilet is not recommended.
Read the label for instructions. Some drugs bear special instructions for disposal. For instance, the label may state if the drug is approved for flushing down the toilet. Sometimes the danger of the drug, such as an opioid, makes this the preferred method. But unless the label says it’s okay, do NOT flush!
Check your local pharmacies. Many provide a drug-disposal service. Or the pharmacist may direct you to a community drug-take-back program. For example, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration holds a National Prescription Drug Take Back Day twice a year on the last Saturday in April and October. Visit www.dea.gov/takebackday to find an event near you.
The pharmacy may also offer preaddressed envelopes for mailing back your unwanted medicines for proper disposal.
Check with your local trash hauler. Trash haulers are up to date on local laws and regulations concerning medication disposal. For instance, inhalers, because of their propellants, can be dangerous if punctured or thrown in a fire. Your trash hauler may also know about nearby take-back programs.
If there are no take-back options near you, follow these steps to safely dispose of meds at home:
- Dirty the drugs. Take the medication out of its original container. Mix it with an unappealing substance, such as coffee grounds or kitty litter. In other words, disguise the drug’s appearance and make it unattractive to children or pets. Do NOT crush tablets or capsules.
- Seal the drugs. Put the mixed preparation in a lidded container or sealable bag and put the container in the garbage.
- Change the label. Disfigure the label on the empty bottle so that personal information is no longer readable.
Use these guidelines for disposal of over-the-counter drugs, too!
Your actions protect people and pets from accidental harm and help combat street use of prescription drugs.
Does it feel like you’re juggling a lot as a family caregiver?
Worrying about the medicine cabinet is probably just one of many things on your plate. As the Delaware, and Delaware and Chester Counties in PA experts in family caregiving, we at Delaware Palliative are here to answer questions, guide decisions, and share some of the load. Give us a call at 302-478-5707 to learn how we can make your life a little (or a lot!) easier.
