At Farmacia San Rafael we're committed to providing our clients with the tools to promote their health and security as part of the Patient Health and Safety Education and Communication Requirements. Educating our patients about the medication they are taking is essential for long-term health goals. Making sure patients understand the do's and don'ts of proper medication disposal is a top priority.
When was the last time you checked your medicine cabinet?
The medicine cabinet starts to fill up with doctor prescribed and over-the-counter medication. You use them and forget they are even there until the next time you experience problems with your health. Sometimes they expire, and your bottles of pills are lined up on the shelves, that are no longer effective for your health needs. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) have guidelines that you should follow when it comes to proper disposal.
How should I dispose of my expired prescribed medication?
If your prescription has expired, don't flush the pills down the toilet and throw away the bottle. First, find out if there is a Drug-Take Back location near you. Then, take the medications to the site, and they will dispose of the expired medication. Now, certain medicines can go down the toilet only if it says to do so in the instructions. The FDA also has a list of drugs that can be flushed down the toilet immediately. Check with the FDA site first!
If they are not on the list, put the pills in a ziplock bag with coffee grinds, seal, and then dispose of your garbage. Scratch your name, address, and doctor's name off the bottle. Peel the sticker and shred the label, if the label comes off easy.
For more information on the Do's and Don't of drug disposal, visit the FDA or the DEA websites. Always check the DEA's website for Permanent or Temporary drug take-back locations/events.
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