expired meds

JLPT830

What do you do with meds that have expired?  I cleaned out our med cabinet and most of what I have is OTC pill form (like vitamins) but I also have a liquid prescription.  I hate to just put it in the trash.  Will pharmacies take it and dispose of it?

MrsMoher

I don't know about pharmacies, but I want to say that a few months back (within 6 for sure) they did a big county wide thing in my area where you could take it in to a police or fire station. Maybe call your local city building and ask them. I would be they have drop off centers for that kind of stuff. I think the thing they did in our county was in conjunction with the water district to protect our drinking water, so they might be another good place to call if the city building/police draw a blank.

Superchicy

Our city also had a day where you could bring all expired meds in like pp mentioned.  I think we were to drop them off at our local police station.  You might check and see if there's something like that locally for you.

sistrkate

Honestly?  I flush them down the toilet. 

Meg41208

sistrkate:

Honestly?  I flush them down the toilet. 

This is discouraged because the wastewater eventually gets discharged into rivers and streams and the treatment plants don't treat for random pharmaceuticals, so it ends up as pollution.

I've seen the drop boxes at a few city buildings in NKY.   

addslove

I try to follow the FDA's guidelines for disposing of them.  This link has the guidelines and a bit of info about why not all drugs should be flushed and/or just tossed in the trash.

https://www.fda.gov/forconsumers/consumerupdates/ucm101653.htm