FDA discusses proper disposal of prescription medicine.
Michael Gardiner | Oct 2, 2015

FDA discusses proper disposal of prescription medicine

The drug life-cycle of the 4.3 billion prescriptions Americans fill out every year is not over until the medicine has been consumed in its entirety or discarded of properly; accidental exposure or intentional misuses are direct results of improper medicine disposal, but, thankfully, Deputy Director for Regulatory Programs in the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research at the FDA Dr. Douglas Throckmorton knows how best to dispose and take care of them.

“It’s important to keep medicines in a storage location out of the reach and sight of children and pets, too,” Throckmorton said. “Be sure to put medicines away after every use. Don’t leave them out on the kitchen counter or some place where they can easily be grabbed by kids. Even simple measures like making sure that the safety cap is locked can help prevent accidents.”

Regarding the best way to dispose of them, Throckmorton recommends several options. 

“For a small number of drugs, we recommend immediate removal from the home by flushing them down the toilet or sink,” Throckmorton said. “There are several programs consumers can access to help them dispose of unused or unwanted prescription drugs. First, take-back programs. These events are held in many parts of the country and can help you dispose of unused and unneeded drugs quickly and safely. Check with your local government or the DEA’s website for information on the next take-back event in your community. Another good option for safe disposal is to locate a DEA-authorized collection site. Authorized collection sites may be retail pharmacies, hospital or clinic pharmacies or law enforcement locations. Some authorized collection sites may also offer mail-back programs or collection receptacles, sometimes called drop-boxes.”

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