Does anyone know how to dispose of old medications?

Redwolf · Post by **Redwolf** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 4:16 pm

I cleaned out my medicine chests today, and I have a bagful of expired medications (most of them stuff left in the bottle when the doctor changed Johanna's meds, plus some canine medications left after my old dog passed away). Back in the old days, we used to flush things like that, but I seem to remember hearing that that's not such a good idea for environmental reasons. If flushing isn't the thing to do, does anyone out there know the proper procedure for disposing of this stuff?

Redwolf

spittin_in_the_wind · Post by **spittin_in_the_wind** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 4:22 pm

I've always flushed them, figuring that if they had been taken as directed, that's where they would have ended up eventually anyways. But, maybe that's not the thing to do anymore. Hmmm...

Robin

pipersgrip · Post by **pipersgrip** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 4:30 pm

i just throw them in garbage

Charlene · Post by **Charlene** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 4:31 pm

I just googled it and here's a story from the San Francisco area - sounds like you should check with your garbage company to be sure.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.c ... IPJMO1.DTL

Jack · Post by **Jack** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 4:35 pm

Give them to your pharmacist. She will know what to do with them.

hyldemoer · Post by **hyldemoer** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 5:12 pm

Cranberry wrote:Give them to your pharmacist. She will know what to do with them.

That's a good answer, Cran.

And even though it seems herbs don't seem to be thought of as medicine on this list, if an herb is a leaf or flower and more than one year old, its ready for the compost bin.
If an herb is a seed, bark or root and more than 3 years old, its ready for the compost bin.
If any herb is ground up into a powder and more than 3 to 6 months old, its ready for the compost bin.

Unless, of course, all you're using the herb for is flavoring.

Jack · Post by **Jack** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 5:13 pm

hyldemoer wrote:
Cranberry wrote:Give them to your pharmacist. She will know what to do with them.
That's a good answer, Cran.

I am very sick and I take a lot of medications, so I have come across this situation more than once. The best thing to do is give them to your pharmacist.

Redwolf · Post by **Redwolf** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 6:17 pm

That's a good thought. I have to pick up one of Jo's meds tomorrow...I'll speak to the pharmacist then. Thanks, Cran.

Since some of her old meds are central nervous system stimulants (controlled substances in California), I don't want to just toss them in the trash. And some of Cedar's old medicines are narcotics.

Redwolf

djm · Post by **djm** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 8:40 pm

I do a once per year clean out of the medicine cabinet, too. Anything that is left over just gets swallowed with a glass of water to wash it down. I've never noticed any ill effects ill effects ill effects ill effects from cleaning things up this way.

djm

Redwolf · Post by **Redwolf** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 8:42 pm

djm wrote:I do a once per year clean out of the medicine cabinet, too. Anything that is left over just gets swallowed with a glass of water to wash it down. I've never noticed any ill effects ill effects ill effects ill effects from cleaning things up this way.

djm

Redwolf

cowtime · Post by **cowtime** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 8:43 pm

That explains a lot

gonzo914 · Post by **gonzo914** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 8:50 pm

Save it. You never know when it might come in handy.

Even 4-year-old hydrocodone still works some.

Redwolf · Post by **Redwolf** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 11:16 pm

gonzo914 wrote:Save it. You never know when it might come in handy.

Even 4-year-old hydrocodone still works some.

But I have no need for 4-year-old Strattera (and expired antibiotics...in other words, my old premeds...can be dangerous). And I can't foresee a time when I'll need expired Torbutrol (canine narcotic).

Seriously, all of this stuff is stuff that I either won't need again or that can be dangerous if misused...that's why I want to get rid of it.

Redwolf

susnfx · Post by **susnfx** » Sun Apr 22, 2007 8:44 am

Here's a link to a little blurb from the state of Florida on medication disposal:

http://www.dep.state.fl.us/waste/quick_ ... 6Final.pdf

Susan

Redwolf · Post by **Redwolf** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 9:39 pm

Well, I spoke with the pharmacist today. She said to throw them in the regular trash, BUT, I should first remove the labels and, if possible, put them in a bag with something like used kitty litter, both to disguise the fact that they are drugs and to make it less attractive for someone to go through my trash.

Redwolf