Expired medications

[lizziegrace]

I know you're supposed to flush them, but this old house has a septic system. That doesn't make a difference, does it?? :shrug:

[Radio_Lady]

1. DO NOT flush your expired medications! Read about it here:

Leave them in sealed plastic containers (original packaging OK) but you might want to rip off your personal label and ID, if you are concerned about someone getting that information.

Put them in the garbage bag with other non-recyclable waste, and have it handled remotely.

Septic tanks have leeching (sp?) fields, which cause the dissolved drugs to get into the water supply (rivers, lakes, etc.)

There was just a big article on this in a local paper. This is a good link:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/5930/dont_flush_your_expired_medications.html

[NJmaverick]

16. That's correct, you are not suppose to flush them anymore

[lost-in-nj]

2. I REALLY don't think so

who in their right mind

will


play in your septic to find pills?


:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:



wanna go swimming???


:hug: :hug:



lost



chuck them

[LynzM]

3. Bring them back to the pharmacy?

That's what I've heard lately, anyway. I wouldn't flush them into the septic, I'd imagine they'd leech into the groundwater that way.

[Darth_Kitten]

23. You are correct, grasshopper. :)

:)

[Oeditpus Rex]

4. Hereabouts, they're considered hazardous waste

and are supposed to be handled as such.

[BrotherBuzz]

5. NIX the flushing...

Your pharmacy will depose of them for you.

[Dangerously Amused]

6. Yeah, they're saying not to flush them anymore.

Because too much of it is getting into water supplies and lakes and places where they're causing harm to the ecosystem and possibly to humans, especially those who are most vulnerable (weak immune systems, etc.).

Either throw them away as suggested above, or really call your local EPA asnd ask what to do with them.

There was just a community collection of old medicine in this relatively small community, and they got like several hundred pounds of meds.

:hi:

[khashka]

7. Shouldn't matter.

If it bothers you just throw them in the trash. Mark out any personal info on the label first. Just in case. Do that even if you flush 'em. Not all people who "dumpster dive" are looking for cool free stuff someone else threw out.

Khash.

[lizziegrace]

8. Thanks everyone

I knew I should hang on to these. I'm calling the pharmacy to see if they'll take them.

[lizziegrace]

9. From a CVS pharmacist - the latest EPA requirements

any medications that are NOT narcotics should be dumped out of the bottles and into the trash. Soak the labels off the bottles and recycle the bottles if you can.

Narcotics should be mixed with any nasty trash like used cat litter, coffee grounds, etc.

[Angel]

10. Crush the pills...open capsules when you dispose

of them. Mix them with things like coffee grounds, cat litter...something you know that a person who may happen to go through trash would not eat. Do not dispose of them whole. A lot of pharmacy's will not take them for you, but will tell you how to dispose of them correctly. I face this situation at least 3 times per week when people call asking the same question.

[XemaSab]

11. Keep them FOREVER

so that in three years if you decide you need some theophylline or elavil, you have some. :P

But don't take both together, or you will sleep like a baby... waking every hour on the hour, and being totally knocked out between times. :P

[murielm99]

14. Waking every hour on the hour?

Why?

[XemaSab]

24. Honestly: Were you doing anything better with your night?

:shrug:

[Duer 157099]

12. What I want to know is how to remove the labels

I swear they stick them on with crazy glue. Even soaking in water doesn't get them off.

I'd just as soon dip them in something - but what? paint thinner? alcohol? paint? what? Something easy and sure to completely remove the info on the label. I tried black spray paint but you can see right through it!

:shrug:

[Angel]

13. use GooGone n/t

[murielm99]

15. Have you used any of their other products?

Does their stuff work?

[Dogtown]

22. WD-40

dissolves almost any glue.

[harmonicon]

17. send them to me

I'll decide what I can/could/should ingest, and leave what's left at a bus station.

[lizziegrace]

18. hehe...

uh....no

;)



:)

[harmonicon]

19. please?

I'll pay shipping. Soak the labels off first though - I decided that I'd rather have "mystery" drugs.

[lizziegrace]

20. Living life on the edge.

;)

They're history.

[Darth_Kitten]

21. I answer these questions for a living!!! Got one like this yesterday......

and actually learned something searching for the right answer. ;)

NO!!!! NO!!!!! NO!!!!!!

:)

[Fox Mulder]

25. Don't flush them.

They get into the water supply.

Instead, what you should do is leave them in the bottle, peel off the label, and throw them away.