Many expired or unused prescription medications lie idly in cabinets in most homes today. Every day that they stay there is the day that they are at risk of abuse or misuse. Many disposal methods are available for one to choose from. However, one should know that not all medications can be disposed through any method. Here are some useful tips on pharmaceutical disposal that one can follow.
Leaving unused or expired medications in the home exposes them to potential misuse or abuse. Most medications do not produce any adverse effects if taken by individuals they were not initially prescribed for. However, that is not always true because there is a small group of medicines that can have very adverse effects. Besides that, children and elderly people in a household are more likely to consume the medications accidentally or intentionally, something that can cause serious effects or death in extreme situations.
Like stated above, every medication has a preferred disposal method. The labels in which the drugs come usually contain instructions on how to safely dispose them away when they are no longer being used. One should follow these instructions carefully to avoid making mistakes. Disposal instructions may also be found on patient information that accompanies the medication.
Pharmaceuticals are commonly disposed through household trash. From the trash most of the drugs end up in landfills. Not every home is safe with this option. The option can be dangerous for homes that have little children and mentally unstable adults. This is because they can take the drugs from the trash and consume them without the homeowner knowing. That can be a big problem.
Some less harmful medications are also safe to be disposed by flashing down the sink. This could be any sink in the house, but the bathroom sink is more preferable. When flashing, one must ensure that the tablets, powder, capsules, or other forms in which the medication is in completely goes down the sink. There are instructions as to whether one can break large tablets or not. The instructions must be adhered to strictly.
Take back program is another useful method. Take back programs encourage people to take all medications they no longer need to some central location. Such locations may be law enforcement agencies, hospital departments, or some other official place. This service is not available in all cities. One should phone relevant authorities and ask if there is such as program in their locality.
Many cities also have many registered medicine collectors. The collectors collect expired and unused medications from people. The collectors one takes the medications to should be registered with the relevant government authorities. Clinic pharmacies, retail centers, hospitals, and law enforcement locations are examples of collectors. These collectors may also offer mail-back programs or collection receptacles.
One should not give out prescription medicines to other people who may need them. When one decides to dispose in the household trash, they must ensure that the label is unreadable or they should remove it completely. This is to protect medical information and also to make the drugs undesirable.
Leaving unused or expired medications in the home exposes them to potential misuse or abuse. Most medications do not produce any adverse effects if taken by individuals they were not initially prescribed for. However, that is not always true because there is a small group of medicines that can have very adverse effects. Besides that, children and elderly people in a household are more likely to consume the medications accidentally or intentionally, something that can cause serious effects or death in extreme situations.
Like stated above, every medication has a preferred disposal method. The labels in which the drugs come usually contain instructions on how to safely dispose them away when they are no longer being used. One should follow these instructions carefully to avoid making mistakes. Disposal instructions may also be found on patient information that accompanies the medication.
Pharmaceuticals are commonly disposed through household trash. From the trash most of the drugs end up in landfills. Not every home is safe with this option. The option can be dangerous for homes that have little children and mentally unstable adults. This is because they can take the drugs from the trash and consume them without the homeowner knowing. That can be a big problem.
Some less harmful medications are also safe to be disposed by flashing down the sink. This could be any sink in the house, but the bathroom sink is more preferable. When flashing, one must ensure that the tablets, powder, capsules, or other forms in which the medication is in completely goes down the sink. There are instructions as to whether one can break large tablets or not. The instructions must be adhered to strictly.
Take back program is another useful method. Take back programs encourage people to take all medications they no longer need to some central location. Such locations may be law enforcement agencies, hospital departments, or some other official place. This service is not available in all cities. One should phone relevant authorities and ask if there is such as program in their locality.
Many cities also have many registered medicine collectors. The collectors collect expired and unused medications from people. The collectors one takes the medications to should be registered with the relevant government authorities. Clinic pharmacies, retail centers, hospitals, and law enforcement locations are examples of collectors. These collectors may also offer mail-back programs or collection receptacles.
One should not give out prescription medicines to other people who may need them. When one decides to dispose in the household trash, they must ensure that the label is unreadable or they should remove it completely. This is to protect medical information and also to make the drugs undesirable.
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