Recommended Medication Disposal Practices

You were prescribed a medication for treatment of pain, but you didn’t use the entire prescription. What now? This, along with other circumstances, is an example why you should become familiar with some preferred medication disposal options.

If your medicine is no longer needed, its expiration is expired, or even if the drug is unwanted, it should be disposed of promptly. If unused medications aren’t disposed of, they can fall into the wrong hands – meaning they could be ingested accidentally, or even misused.

This blog post will cover some quick tips you should consider, when disposing of expired, unwanted, or unused medications.

What are the best medication disposal practices?

Medication disposal sites are one of the best, and safest, ways you can get rid of medicines.

There are commonly two types of preferred Rx drug disposal options:

Periodic events

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) holds periodic events, like National Take Back Day, where they temporarily collect and safely dispose of prescription drugs. This option allows you to have confidence that your medications will be disposed of properly and promptly.

Keep in mind, some medications could specifically tell you to immediately flush them down the toilet when they are no longer need. Your medication’s label may tell you to do this, if no other drug take-back option is immediately available.

Your local law enforcement may also sponsor take-back events. Paying attention to your local news or community bulletins can help you become aware of these events.

Permanent Collection Sites

Another good option for you to dispose of your unwanted medicines is through DEA-registered collection sites. These often exist at participating police stations or even local pharmacies. By calling your local pharmacy or police station, you can find out if they participate in the DEA-registered collection site program. Other facilities where you may be able to dispose of your unwanted medicines could include hospitals or clinic pharmacies.

Other Ways to Go About Medication Disposal

The FDA also suggests that you can dispose of medications in your household trash, if no take-back program or DEA-registered collection site is available.

How to Get Rid of Your Medications

If you dispose of your medications in the household trash, the DEA suggest you take the following steps:

• Mix medicines with an unpalatable substance such as dirt, cat litter, or used coffee grounds. Do not crush tablets or capsules
• Place the mixture in a container, such as a sealed plastic bag
• Throw the container in your household trash
• Delete all personal information on the prescription label of empty pill bottles or medicine packaging, then dispose of the container

Only Flush Medications if Packaging Advises you to

Some medications advise you to immediately flush them down the toilet, if no longer needed or a take-back option is not readily available.

If you follow these steps and mindfully dispose of your medications, you can help make sure prescription drugs don’t end up in the wrong hands.