by Mzzz Sweets - Sandy (Why do I have to add a last name?)
Member since:
September 8, 2006

What to do with extra pills?

May 23, 2011 11:54 AM UTC
views: 0 | 4 people recommend this | comments: 21

Some of you know I take alot of different medications for different things. Some has been upgraded in strength or have been stopped because the prescription has changed all together. Now I have extra pills I don't need or use.

Do you know of a proper way to dispose of them?

I hate to throw this large amount in the trash. As I live in a trailer parkcommunity where I throw trash in  dumpster. There's always someone going through it or kids doing only god knows what around it. I am lucky it is positioned at the other end of the trailer park.

Any ideas? I would be extremely grateful.

Comments: 21

MrsRoadRunner . May 23, 2011, 12:02pm UTC
I have asked this very same question in our area..... I got two responses from the pharmacy. Flush them down the toilet, or put them in a plastic bag and throw them away.
Like you I USED to be on so many drugs from this doctor or that one. Like you said, what on earth does one do with the leftovers?? To bad there was not some program where the company would PAY us back for the unused pills. Let them take care of disposing of them. Would this bring the cost of them down?? Would this clean up our watersheds, and well water?
Some places in the USA are very contaminated with these throw away pills. It is horrible in some places that we have no where to safely (is there such a place?), dispose of such things when we need too??
Once in a great while the town over will have a spot to dispose of these. Once in a great while!! This of course is taken advantage of.
Call the law, call the health department or even your pharmacy and ask what is available in your area. Dont flush or put them in a plastic bag to decompose as it goes through the garbage. I know you wont!!
Thats why they are still sitting in my drawer. Because I don't want to add to the trash where it will make it to our waterways. Or worse yet, one of these kids around here gets a hold of them.

I'll call around and see what information I can get. I have not heard of any places in town to turn them into.
MrsRoadRunner . May 23, 2011, 12:26pm UTC
Ya, sorry thing of it is ~ they are not only kids. Full grown adults dumpster dive too......
Yes, I actually know some grown adults who dumpster dive. I have no problem with that. I just don't want the meds to get into the wrong hands.
MrsRoadRunner . May 23, 2011, 1:53pm UTC
Oh sure, I understand. Their is a couple down the road who do that, salvage usable stuff is a good way of saying it :0)
RedBird. B. May 23, 2011, 12:04pm UTC
Here is a Safe web-site that just Help You,
http://www.wisegeek.com/how-do-i-dispose-of-expired-medicine.htm
Wow what alot of information on that site. Thank you for the link.
RedBird. B. May 23, 2011, 1:23pm UTC
Yes! I have used it myself.
Monica C. May 23, 2011, 12:07pm UTC
Well, before I knew where my pills were going, I used to flush them down my toliet. Once I found out where they go, into our drinking water and waterways, I throw them out in the bottle I purchased them in. My city does not have any program for throwing out pills.
Yeah, back in the day that was how we was suppose to dispose of pills. That was before anyone knew what an impact it had on our waterways and such.
Margaret G. May 23, 2011, 12:26pm UTC
You can put them in coffee grounds or cat litter. Or you can try calling your local police department and see if they are planning to have a day when you can bring your pills in for safe disposal. Our county just did that and I was able to get rid of a lot of pills I had sitting in the house.
I am going to check with the local pharmacy. We have two big chains in town. If I get no where, I'll call the Health Department next. those ladies are always really nice up there.
Bernard C. May 23, 2011, 12:44pm UTC
Plastic bag and out with the garbage - or return them to the pharmacy who will incinerate them :-)
Thank you. I am calling the pharmacy and see what they say.
Adelaide M. May 23, 2011, 1:31pm UTC
Thanks for posting to Point Taken. Have a great day!


Hope you're able to find something out from the pharmacy.
I am waiting for a call back.
Renee (Pres of Baby James Foundation) ~. May 23, 2011, 3:26pm UTC
I take mine to pharmacy when I get my new pills refilled.
Debbie W. May 23, 2011, 5:30pm UTC
Here in Florida they have a program that the police have where there's a drop off point, and they dispose of them (burning i think) Call your local police to see if they have a similar program
Susan G. May 23, 2011, 6:02pm UTC
crush them, replace in container, removed labels from container, top with water to dissolve contents, maybe add some coffee grounds or kitty litter to make it all nasty, then throw in trash.
Mary M. May 23, 2011, 8:20pm UTC
I would call the pharmacy or local health department. They used to say flush 'em but now they worry about too many drugs in the water supplies.
Rachel D. May 23, 2011, 10:30pm UTC
Toilet is mandatory for many pills. Some pharmacies might take them. Just a note: if a loved one dies and there are scheduled drugs, the nurse/doctor may mandate that s/he witness you flushing the narcotics down the toilet. I was the one that got the honors when my mother-in-law died (I knew it was coming, so I volunteered for the duties so everyone else could say goodbye).

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