{"id":9633,"date":"2020-03-13T16:30:43","date_gmt":"2020-03-13T20:30:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=9633"},"modified":"2023-04-20T15:35:55","modified_gmt":"2023-04-20T19:35:55","slug":"how-to-dispose-of-medication","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/how-to-dispose-of-medication\/","title":{"rendered":"How to dispose of medication"},"content":{"rendered":"

It is common for individuals to have medication at home that they no longer require, whether it be over-the-counter drugs such as allergy medicine or prescriptions like antibiotics. It could be because the drugs have expired or the prescription has changed, <\/span>and they are<\/span> no longer needed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

No matter the reason<\/span>, it\u2019s essential to follow proper medication disposal practices as outlined in this guide. Keep reading to learn how to dispose of prescription drugs.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"How<\/p>\n

Dangers of improperly disposing of medication<\/b><\/h2>\n

Improper medication disposal poses significant risks, including environmental pollution, accidental ingestion, and prescription drug misuse. By learning and following the proper methods of medication disposal, you can help protect yourself and others from harm and help improve the safety and well-being of your community.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Accidentally consuming expired medication<\/b><\/h3>\n

If unused medications are not disposed of properly, <\/span>serious dangers may occur.<\/span> First, you risk accidentally taking that medication. So, what\u2019s the harm in taking medication after its expiration date?<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMost medications begin to lose their potency with time, and so the most common danger of an expired medication is it may not be strong enough to control the condition it was prescribed for,\u201d says Bob Parrado, R.Ph., a board member of <\/span>Hillsborough County Anti-Drug Alliance (HCADA)<\/span><\/a> in Tampa, Florida.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This means your expired ibuprofen might not cure your headache very quickly\u2014which isn\u2019t a big deal. <\/span>If<\/span> you\u2019re relying on medication to treat a serious issue such as heart disease, <\/span>however<\/span>, you could be putting yourself at a major risk.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)<\/span><\/a> warns you should never take expired medicine, as they can be \u201cless effective or risky due to a change in chemical composition.\u201d Additionally, some medications \u201care at risk of bacterial growth.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The FDA also cautions that<\/span> expired antibiotics <\/span>may not work to treat<\/span> infections because they\u2019re less potent. <\/span>This can lead <\/span>to antibiotic resistance and more serious illnesses.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere are a few medications, such as tetracycline-class antibiotics, that can become toxic as they degrade,\u201d <\/span>says Parrado<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Even medications that aren\u2019t expired can be dangerous. For example, you might have been prescribed painkillers following major surgery and found that you didn\u2019t use them all. When you don\u2019t dispose of medication you\u2019re no longer using, you risk the chance of certain drugs being misused either on purpose or by accident.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

According to the <\/span>National Institute of Drug Abuse<\/span><\/a>, this is especially true with opioids, barbiturates, sleep medications, and amphetamines \ufe58 such as those used to treat ADHD.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Over-the-counter medications, such as cough syrups containing dextromethorphan (DXM), may be abused for their effects. The anti-diarrheal medication <\/span>loperamide<\/span><\/a> could be taken in large doses for the purpose of experiencing a high. While these two medications don\u2019t require a prescription, they can be misused if they get into the wrong hands.<\/span><\/p>\n

Environmental concerns<\/b><\/h3>\n

When you do decide to dispose of medication, it\u2019s essential to do it in the safest way possible. Failing to dispose of medication safely can put yourself, <\/span>others<\/span>, and the environment at risk.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When people improperly flush medicine down the toilet, rinse it down the drain, or throw it in the garbage, medications can end up in the local water supply. <\/span>The <\/span>United States Geological Survey (USGS)<\/span><\/a> concluded that the majority of small streams in the U.S. contain a mixture of chemicals, including pharmaceuticals, which can pose a risk to wildlife.<\/span><\/p>\n

While the risk to humans doesn\u2019t appear to be as severe as to aquatic organisms and wildlife, our current water treatment technology might not be enough to remove the small, dissolved medication components. The potential effects may be far-reaching.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Personal safety<\/b><\/h2>\n

Improper medication disposal can also result in risks to your personal safety. As covered in this guide, a major part of proper disposal of medication at home is to make medications undiscoverable in household garbage. Otherwise, if the medication is a controlled substance like an opioid, there is a chance that someone who misuses medication could discover it. They might also think you have more, which <\/span>may motivate someone to seek you out for theft.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When should you dispose of medication?<\/b><\/h2>\n

You should dispose of medication any time it is expired, unwanted, or unused. Unwanted or unused medicines could be medications that are simply no longer needed. <\/span>This could happen when you no longer need a prescription or when someone using a prescription passes away.<\/span><\/p>\n

Which drugs and medications can you discard?<\/b><\/h2>\n

You can and should dispose of any drugs or medications that are expired, unused, or unwanted. These typically fall into three categories.<\/span><\/p>\n