Possibly a silly question, but...?

Question

Is there some special way to dispose of un-used prescription drugs? They aren't expired or anything. I just quit using them. Some is migraine meds and one is an anti-seizure med. I just wondered if there's anything I have to do or just toss them?

I appreciate the answers though I feel even more confused now. lol The reason I stopped taking the migraine meds is it was an "as needed" thing and they didn't work. As for the anti-seizure...I disliked the side effects (some were dangerous) and it was supposed to help with my migraines and it wasn't working.

Answer 1

Flush them down the toliet. This makes sure that no person or animal accidentally ingests them. They will not get into the water system, because all water is treated at the waste water treatment plant after it goes down the toilet. Otherwise, our water supply would have worse stuff than just medicine in it. Additionally, for years now, non narcotic medication that is "wasted" in nursing facilities gets flushed down the hopper--which is essentially a great big toilet that goes straight to the water system, which goes straight to the water treatment plant for that community.

Answer 2

That is not a stupid question. In fact, a lot of the time sitting on a horse DOES cause them pain. This can be seen easily by any good horse person. The horse will have swelling, tightness, or heat in their back. They will be irritable and have poor performance. Back pain can be caused by a lot of things. First of all, confirmation. Just like people, some horses are built better than others. Because of that, some will develop more back problems than others. The second thing that could be causing pain is a poor rider. A rider that sits like a sack of potatoes or a solid metal rod will hurt the horse's back without a question. The biggest back pain cause that should ALWAYS be avoided, but is quite common is saddle fit. For a person that doesn't work with horses often, it is strange to think about the fact that fitting a saddle to a horse's back is more important than fitting it to the rider's behind. A saddle must have even contact along the long muscles of the back, but no pressure on the spine. It must distribute the rider's weight evenly over a large area, but it can't be too stiff or the horse won't be able to flex. It must be properly padded and balanced. It has to have the weight bearing surface be far enough foreword that it only sits on the ribs, and back enough that it doesn't restrict the horse's shoulders. On top of all that, it needs to help the horse and rider do whatever they are training in. Because it is so tricky to make tack that fits well and doesn't hurt, people participate in extremely long apprenticeships to learn the art of saddlery. Since each horse is different, each rider is different, and each discipline or style is different, saddling is unimaginably complex. People are constantly working on finding a one size fits all saddle, but that will never really work. There are saddles that are extremely adjustable, saddles that are completely flexible, and saddles that are custom molded to a horse's back. All of these options have problems, and some horses work best in something that another horse couldn't move in. A quick search online about saddle fit will give you a glimpse into this world, and how much time and brain power is dedicated to it.

Answer 3

I don't think this is a silly question, as I have wondered the same thing. I have thought about asking my pharmacy is they can dispose of the medications, or at least tell me what they suggest. If I find out anything else I will update. I don't like the idea of flushing the medications since I have concerns about the water treatment and removal of the medications that may be dumped into our sewage systems.

P.S. I just spoke to my pharmacy, and they also said flush it or throw it away. They did say that they do have a bin that they throw any prescriptions in to protect patient information, and that I was welcome to bring the prescriptions in to them to be placed in that bin. With todays concerns about identity protection, I think I will do that, and you can see if your pharmacy has something similar.

Answer 4

Very good question,,not a silly one. Considering improper disposal can end up in the wrong hands and provide the potential to harm to another or the environment.

Therefore, there are a few steps you can take to properly dispose medication:

Take drugs as directed by your doctor or pharmacist. Don't stop taking a drug part way through the course of treatment, unless you are having a serious adverse reaction, without first discussing it with your doctor. Even if you feel better, use up the entire prescription as directed to make sure that all the germs are destroyed.

Do not put out-of-date or unused medication in the garbage or down the toilet or sink.

Check to see if your pharmacy has a drug recycling program that disposes of unused or expired drugs in an environmentally safe manner. Most pharmacies do and programs exist in B.C., Alberta and many parts of other provinces and territories to incinerate unused drugs.

If your area does not have such a program, see if your municipality incinerates drugs. If so, take your unused drugs to your municipality's waste disposal depot.

At least once a year, go through your medicine cabinet and remove prescription drugs that are old or that you no longer take. Check the expiry dates on non-prescription drugs and remove those that are outdated as well. Take them all back to your pharmacy or to your municipal waste disposal depot.

If you don't know if a drug is still good, check with your pharmacist.

Answer 5

Hey Tux gal - Not silly atall! Peeps need b careful about drugs! Chil- len or varmit get ahold of that from trash, might think it was candy! - Dumb Adults might also - esp drunks, drug addicts, etc. Improper disposal bottle of ur pills may get u arrested 4 dispensing! I found that giving friend some 4 pain. It can interact w/ meds. Fx of mixin, that peeps so often do, can b fatal. Remember Marilyn Munroe?! I'm in MAss Never heard drug store taking meds back. They won't even take bottle back w/ new refill! what 2 do except sink/ toilet where no 1 will get 'em. Don't know about water treatment problem.

Answer 6

Do not toss them down a sink or toilet- this is a very dangerous thing to do. Your best bet is to return them to your local pharmacy. Most pharmacies have annual drives for expired medications. Once the pharmacy collects them, they are shipped to a center for incineration. You can read more here which will also explain why you should not flush them, throw them down the sink, or in the trash
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/5930/dont_flush_your_expired_medications.html

Answer 7

If you flush them, they enter the water system--not a good idea. AARP says, remove the label or black out your name and then dispose of them in the original bottle in the trash. In my community, there is a free clinic that will take them and distribute them to others in need. There may be a free clinic in your community too.

Answer 8

I asked the pharmacist this same question and like the poster above, he said to flush them down the toilet. I don't really think that's the greatest thing to do but there isn't any other option offered around my area anyway.

Answer 9

I would remove the labels from the jars and tear them up, privacy issue. After that, take the unused ones and toss in the toilet and flush, that's it. Good luck.

Answer 10

toss them unless you have kids in the family then flush all pills