Medicines that are no longer used, needed, or expired should be discarded in a manner that protects your family, pets, community, and environment. Consumers were once told to flush old medicines down the toilet. However, recent studies show that medicines disposed in sewer and septic systems might later be found in very small amounts in the environment. So the rule of thumb today is: DO NOT FLUSH medicines. A few exceptions exist. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has identified certain prescription medicines that should be flushed. But OTC medicines should NOT be flushed down the toilet or poured down the drain.
When looking to dispose of expired or unused medicines, the best option is to find a drug take-back location; this can be a local pharmacy or a police station. Drug take-back locations may offer onsite drop boxes, mail back programs, or in-home disposal products. Please understand that different regions and states have different ways of addressing this issue, so it is important to follow the laws that are in place in your part of the country for medicine disposal. You can safely dispose of your unused and expired medicines in your household trash. When discarding unused medicines, ensure you protect children and pets from potentially negative effects:
Pour the medicine into a sealable plastic bag. If the medicine is a solid (tablet, capsule, etc.), add water to dissolve it.
Add kitty litter, sawdust, coffee grounds (or any material that mixes with the medicine and makes it less appealing for pets and children to eat) to the plastic bag.
Seal the plastic bag and put it in the trash.
Remove and destroy ALL identifying personal information from medicine containers before recycling them or throwing them away.
Consult your pharmacist with any questions. For more information, visit: Disposal of Unused Medicines: What You Should Know.
