Medications can sometimes take over your cabinet or cupboard. Why, you may ask? Sometimes your doctor changes your medication or the dosage. Or you were prescribed a pain medication for a procedure and did not need all that was provided to you. Now you have several bottles of half used medications you need to dispose of in the proper manner. 

Getting rid of expired medications or drugs you no longer need can sometimes be a challenge. How do you do it properly and safely? These are questions asked often and need to be addressed. Below are the best options to help you throw away medications you no longer need in your home.

Take Inventory of Medications 

Every 6 months or more, you should take an inventory of the medications you have on hand. If they are expired, collect the bottles on the counter to start your disposing process. The best method would be to drop them off at a take back location. How does a take back location work? 

A Take Back Drug Drop Off Location provides a safe and convenient way to dispose of medications to ensure that the medications are not in a location that could be harmful to others or yourself. Take back locations also educate you on how to not abuse or misuse your medications. You can contact law enforcement as well because they will know the details of take back medication programs in your local area. 

Take the Medications to Family Doctor

You can also take your unused or no longer needed medicine to your doctor and they too can assist you in disposing of the medications properly. Don’t hesitate to contact your doctor for directions and advice on disposing of medications.

In Your Regular Trash

If a take back medication program is not available to you, you have two options; one, put it in your regular trash and two, flush the medications. How do you know the safest of the two options? If you have to put it in your trash, you can remove the medication from its original container and mix it with something undesirable like soil, kitty litter or used coffee grounds. Then put the medication in a resealable bag so it does not leak out. Finally, toss the container in your trash. Make sure to take the original container and remove your information. Either use a permanent marker or peel off the information and destroy it. 

Flushables

If you have medications that according to the FDA are flushable, then just flush the medication down the toilet. Make sure you read the list carefully and that you flush only those drugs that are flushable. You might worry that flushing medications will pollute rivers and streams; however, according to the FDA, this is very unlikely if you stick to the list of flushables. 
The bottomline is to utilize the take back programs in your local area if at all possible. As mentioned before, you can contact your local law enforcement, doctor, and pharmacist if you need any assistance. They are all usually well versed in medication take back programs. Need more advice on senior care? Contact Ann at Senior Living Options today. She is happy to help you live the next phase of life with grace and dignity.

Author: Ann Jamison

Ann Jamison is an experienced senior advisor who has successfully worked with hundreds of families to help them find the best care and home-like environment for themselves or their loved ones. Prior to launching Senior Living Options, Ann was an eldercare advisor for a national placement agency and served as sales director at a senior living community. Thanks to her 25-year career in advertising sales and marketing, Ann is able to discern between hype and reality for her clients. Ann recognizes that there are objective factors that need to be weighed when making a life-changing decision, but she can also assess the important softer attributes by getting to know her clients and by using the gut instincts that can only come through extended experience.