How to Properly Dispose of Medication?

[Irina]

I have some medication, syringes and IV supplies left after my surgery and it's time to get rid of them. My husband is very environment cautious and says that I should not just throw them away in garbage, but to properly dispose of it. Do I take it to a local pharmacy? What did other people do with meds they didn't need?

[Susie*Bee]

I took a bunch of my medications to the county sheriff's department-- they sometimes have special days to turn in medicines but probably will take them any time. The police don't want legal drugs out there where kids can get their hands on them (from Grandma's medicine cabinet, etc.). It's wrong to flush them down the toilet as it pollutes. I really don't know that the pharmacist can do anything with them. I would call your local police department and ask, but that is me. (smile)

[tae_tap]

I have had patients bring in old needles and meds for us to dispose of. We put them in the bio-hazard where it is locked and cannot be removed. Please do not throw away, that is dangerous as is flushing. Most medical offices or EMT units will happily destroy it for you.

[mabeckoff]

I took a bunch of my medications to the county sheriff's department-- they sometimes have special days to turn in medicines but probably will take them any time. The police don't want legal drugs out there where kids can get their hands on them (from Grandma's medicine cabinet, etc.). It's wrong to flush them down the toilet as it pollutes. I really don't know that the pharmacist can do anything with them. I would call your local police department and ask, but that is me. (smile)

That is what I did last Spring here in CA . They had a special day in April to take old medicine that you did not want. I am sure that if you called your police department they could assist you.Please do not flush or just throw these drugs away

Melissa

[JenniferG]

I returned my Oxycontin to the pharmacy from where they came. They said they are sent to third world countries.

[mabeckoff]

I returned my Oxycontin to the pharmacy from where they came. They said they are sent to third world countries.

That is very interesting...The difference between countries.. MY pharmacist said that there was nothing he could do with leftover medcicne

[jrnyc]

any pharmaceutical company that dispensed syringes should have
sent you a sharps container for used needles...and should have a
phone number to call for them to pick up the container when it is filled
with your used sharps....there should be a phone number to call for
a sharps pick up...

the other meds...either call the same pharmaceutical company....
or call the town you live in and ask which days a year they allow
for dangerous materials to be turned in to the town...
or as someone else suggested, the police department could
probably answer those questions...

as for actual medication....my pharmacist told me the same...that he cannot
take back medication, legally.
my doctor is more likely to take back unused meds to give to those who can
not afford them...or to forward to an organization that gets the meds validated
and sent to poor countries...

jess