Disposing Old Medications

from an article in USA Today full article here: http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/painter/2007-04-22-old-medicine_N.htm

•Don't flush old medications unless the patient information packet that comes with a drug specifically advises it (as will still be the case for certain narcotics and other medications that have a high potential for danger or abuse).

•It's OK to throw most prescription and non-prescription drugs in the trash — but only after taking a few steps. Crush pills or dissolve them in water; dilute liquid medications, too. Then mix the drugs with kitty litter, coffee grounds or other unappealing materials. Place the mess in a sealed plastic bag and discard.

•Remove and destroy prescription labels before throwing away original containers.

•Find out whether any sites in your community have legal approval to collect and discard consumers' unused medications. In some states, pharmacies can take back medications.

•When in doubt, ask your pharmacist for advice.

Whatever you do, "don't let medications just sit around," says Catherine Polley, chief policy officer of the pharmacists' group. "Unused, expired medications can be harmful to everyone in the house."

Even if you don't have children or pets, she notes, you are at risk. You might accidentally take old medication yourself or be tempted to use old antibiotics, painkillers or other prescription drugs for a new problem — always a bad idea.

Finding new ways to throw out old drugs won't keep them entirely out of the water system — because an estimated 70% to 80% of drug residues are from human waste — but it can make a difference, Masson says.