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 current recommendation is to only flush medicines that have been identified by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as safe to flush. If a medicine is not on the approved list, there are other options to use.
When looking to dispose of expired or unused medicines, the best option is to find a drug take-back location, which may 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 also safely dispose of your unused and expired medicines in your household trash by following the recommendations listed below.
Pour the medicine into a sealable plastic bag. If the medicine is a solid (tablet, capsule, etc.), you can add water to dissolve it.
Add kitty litter, sawdust, coffee grounds, dirt, or any material that mixes with the medicine and makes it less appealing for pets and children to eat.
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.
Talk to your pharmacist if you have any questions. For more information, visit: Disposal of Unused Medicines: What You Should Know.
