Re: Getting rid of old prescriptions

[Guest guest]

RH

Good ideas!!

laurie

> As someone who has done environmental work, I have to say that the

> best solution (which unfortunately isn't widely available) is to get

> the prescriptions disposed of as what they are - hazardous waste.

>

> See this site for example:

> http://arthritis.about.com/od/arthritismedications/ht/disposemeds.htm

>

> An idea is to ask a local household waste recycling program if they

> take unused prescriptions. If they don't, perhaps they would

> consider adding them to their list of items taken.

>

> The second best solution, albeit far less appropriate, is to throw

> them out in the trash, in the original bottle as said. But

> note the following:

> " Controlled substances should be returned to the prescribing

> physician or pharmacist. Federal law regarding controlled substances

> such as narcotics states, " no person shall be in control of (i.e.,

> possess) a controlled substance (i.e., drug) unless they are properly

> registered by the Federal Government (e.g., pharmacists, physicians)

> or are the recipient of a prescribed drug (i.e., a patient). " "

>

> so don't go throwing your morphine in the trash LOL. Also, a GREAT

> tip is to put water in solid medications, to avoid children or pets

> finding them in the trash and thinking them candy. And if in doubt

> (or if you have chemo meds or anything extra special toxic), call the

> pharmacist or health care provider. Just my $0.02, the important

> part is not to flush them or throw them down the sink...

>

> Take care,

> RH

>

> > Keeping it in the bottle it was dispensed in is considered the

> > safest way to dispose of medications. I read at one time that there

> > was so much valium in ground water as to almost be at a theriputic

> > dispensing level. That was back when we WERE told to flush unused

> > meds.

> >

> >

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> Medical advice, information, opinions, data and statements contained herein

are not necessarily those of the list moderators. The author of this e mail is

entirely responsible for its content. List members are reminded of their

responsibility to evaluate the content of the postings and consult with their

physicians regarding changes in their own treatment.

>

> Personal attacks are not permitted on the list and anyone who sends one is

automatically moderated or removed depending on the severity of the attack.

>

>

[Guest guest]

I would like to apologize to everyone for my " ignorance " some years agao in a

meoment of dire stress!!!!! Dolores

RH

Good ideas!!

laurie

> As someone who has done environmental work, I have to say that the

> best solution (which unfortunately isn't widely available) is to get

> the prescriptions disposed of as what they are - hazardous waste.

>

> See this site for example:

> http://arthritis.about.com/od/arthritismedications/ht/disposemeds.htm

>

> An idea is to ask a local household waste recycling program if they

> take unused prescriptions. If they don't, perhaps they would

> consider adding them to their list of items taken.

>

> The second best solution, albeit far less appropriate, is to throw

> them out in the trash, in the original bottle as said. But

> note the following:

> " Controlled substances should be returned to the prescribing

> physician or pharmacist. Federal law regarding controlled substances

> such as narcotics states, " no person shall be in control of (i.e.,

> possess) a controlled substance (i.e., drug) unless they are properly

> registered by the Federal Government (e.g., pharmacists, physicians)

> or are the recipient of a prescribed drug (i.e., a patient). " "

>

> so don't go throwing your morphine in the trash LOL. Also, a GREAT

> tip is to put water in solid medications, to avoid children or pets

> finding them in the trash and thinking them candy. And if in doubt

> (or if you have chemo meds or anything extra special toxic), call the

> pharmacist or health care provider. Just my $0.02, the important

> part is not to flush them or throw them down the sink...

>

> Take care,

> RH

>

> > Keeping it in the bottle it was dispensed in is considered the

> > safest way to dispose of medications. I read at one time that there

> > was so much valium in ground water as to almost be at a theriputic

> > dispensing level. That was back when we WERE told to flush unused

> > meds.

> >

> >

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> Medical advice, information, opinions, data and statements contained herein

are not necessarily those of the list moderators. The author of this e mail is

entirely responsible for its content. List members are reminded of their

responsibility to evaluate the content of the postings and consult with their

physicians regarding changes in their own treatment.

>

> Personal attacks are not permitted on the list and anyone who sends one is

automatically moderated or removed depending on the severity of the attack.

>

>

[Guest guest]

I really didn't think about what to do with meds until I saw the

issue on this list - we are the naughty " hoarders " , partially because

of worry about the kids getting them from the trash. I don't know

how soon we'll start throwing out old medications, but we are pretty

careful to keep them in the childproof containers and out of the

children's reach.

One of our rabbits was on chemo, so we had to dispose of her litter

box leavings and litter in sealed bags, and use gloves cleaning the

box (even though we don't normally touch the yucky stuff).

Take care,

RH

> > As someone who has done environmental work, I have to say that the

> > best solution (which unfortunately isn't widely available) is to

get

> > the prescriptions disposed of as what they are - hazardous waste.

> >

> > See this site for example:

> >

http://arthritis.about.com/od/arthritismedications/ht/disposemeds.htm

> >

> > An idea is to ask a local household waste recycling program if

they

> > take unused prescriptions. If they don't, perhaps they would

> > consider adding them to their list of items taken.

> >

> > The second best solution, albeit far less appropriate, is to throw

> > them out in the trash, in the original bottle as said. But

> > note the following:

> > " Controlled substances should be returned to the prescribing

> > physician or pharmacist. Federal law regarding controlled

substances

> > such as narcotics states, " no person shall be in control of (i.e.,

> > possess) a controlled substance (i.e., drug) unless they are

properly

> > registered by the Federal Government (e.g., pharmacists,

physicians)

> > or are the recipient of a prescribed drug (i.e., a patient). " "

> >

> > so don't go throwing your morphine in the trash LOL. Also, a

GREAT

> > tip is to put water in solid medications, to avoid children or

pets

> > finding them in the trash and thinking them candy. And if in

doubt

> > (or if you have chemo meds or anything extra special toxic), call

the

> > pharmacist or health care provider. Just my $0.02, the important

> > part is not to flush them or throw them down the sink...

> >

> > Take care,

> > RH

> >

> > > Keeping it in the bottle it was dispensed in is considered the

> > > safest way to dispose of medications. I read at one time that

there

> > > was so much valium in ground water as to almost be at a

theriputic

> > > dispensing level. That was back when we WERE told to flush

unused

> > > meds.

> > >

> > >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > Medical advice, information, opinions, data and statements

contained herein are not necessarily those of the list moderators.

The author of this e mail is entirely responsible for its content.

List members are reminded of their responsibility to evaluate the

content of the postings and consult with their physicians regarding

changes in their own treatment.

> >

> > Personal attacks are not permitted on the list and anyone who

sends one is automatically moderated or removed depending on the

severity of the attack.

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

I had always been taught that prescription meds and expired over the counter

are best disposed of down the toilet. Vivian

[Guest guest]

You might find this interesting.

http://www.ecocycle.org/askeco-cycle/20040123.cfm

Vcgpg@... wrote:

>I had always been taught that prescription meds and expired over the counter

>are best disposed of down the toilet. Vivian

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I live in an apt complex and just the other day ther was a beautiful brown lab

sleeping and eating out of the dumpster for two apts in this comples, plus there

are several small " unattended children " under the age of five running around the

dumpster playing. I heard the man from the waste company swearing loudly this

Monday and out he came carrying two small children who were laughing and

munching on ??? In Topeka we have many, many " street people " who raid dumpsters

for drugs, mouthwash to drink, cigarette butts (or snipes as the street people

call them) drain the last drink or two out of beer cans/liquor bottles, etc.

Then there are the " dumpster divers " who are mainly after pertinent info to sell

to the idenity theives? I know quite a bit about street people and panhandlers

as when my son (that passed away last August) met and befriended many,

many of them when he worked for Sunshine Salvage before they sold out. He would

always find something to make them a sandwich

out of I am sure he was missed not only by me but a lot of people he helped

over the years. They would come in with their sacks of aluminum cans, iron,

tin, etc to sell for drugs or drink, they called the jail " bed and breakfast "

but got most of their food from the trash at fast food places, pizza parlors??

Dolores

ohgminion rakshasis@...> wrote:

I really didn't think about what to do with meds until I saw the

issue on this list - we are the naughty " hoarders " , partially because

of worry about the kids getting them from the trash. I don't know

how soon we'll start throwing out old medications, but we are pretty

careful to keep them in the childproof containers and out of the

children's reach.

One of our rabbits was on chemo, so we had to dispose of her litter

box leavings and litter in sealed bags, and use gloves cleaning the

box (even though we don't normally touch the yucky stuff).

Take care,

RH

> > As someone who has done environmental work, I have to say that the

> > best solution (which unfortunately isn't widely available) is to

get

> > the prescriptions disposed of as what they are - hazardous waste.

> >

> > See this site for example:

> >

http://arthritis.about.com/od/arthritismedications/ht/disposemeds.htm

> >

> > An idea is to ask a local household waste recycling program if

they

> > take unused prescriptions. If they don't, perhaps they would

> > consider adding them to their list of items taken.

> >

> > The second best solution, albeit far less appropriate, is to throw

> > them out in the trash, in the original bottle as said. But

> > note the following:

> > " Controlled substances should be returned to the prescribing

> > physician or pharmacist. Federal law regarding controlled

substances

> > such as narcotics states, " no person shall be in control of (i.e.,

> > possess) a controlled substance (i.e., drug) unless they are

properly

> > registered by the Federal Government (e.g., pharmacists,

physicians)

> > or are the recipient of a prescribed drug (i.e., a patient). " "

> >

> > so don't go throwing your morphine in the trash LOL. Also, a

GREAT

> > tip is to put water in solid medications, to avoid children or

pets

> > finding them in the trash and thinking them candy. And if in

doubt

> > (or if you have chemo meds or anything extra special toxic), call

the

> > pharmacist or health care provider. Just my $0.02, the important

> > part is not to flush them or throw them down the sink...

> >

> > Take care,

> > RH

> >

> > > Keeping it in the bottle it was dispensed in is considered the

> > > safest way to dispose of medications. I read at one time that

there

> > > was so much valium in ground water as to almost be at a

theriputic

> > > dispensing level. That was back when we WERE told to flush

unused

> > > meds.

> > >

> > >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > Medical advice, information, opinions, data and statements

contained herein are not necessarily those of the list moderators.

The author of this e mail is entirely responsible for its content.

List members are reminded of their responsibility to evaluate the

content of the postings and consult with their physicians regarding

changes in their own treatment.

> >

> > Personal attacks are not permitted on the list and anyone who

sends one is automatically moderated or removed depending on the

severity of the attack.

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

well my point is places like news shows on tv and the like tell you to

dispose down the toilet so just how many people do you think do the same....it

is a

common culture.

For safe disposal one can always get a biohazard container sold in most

pharmacies (diabetics use this to dispose of their needles) and either turn it

in

to a dr or dispose of it in the regular trash. Vivian

[Guest guest]

Definitely, I think it shows how some of the stuff we did as younger

folks and kids is now considered unsafe. For example, no one used car

seats for kids 30 years ago, now if you don't use one you'll get a

ticket and if anything happens to the child you'll get charged with

child endangerment.

My mom used to always clean with ammonia, and my godmother said her

mom used carbon tetrachloride as a cleaner " all the time " . And no one

ever cared (or maybe didn't know) what chemicals were sprayed on their

vegetables and fruits.

I do like to think that using seatbelts, wearing motorcycle helmets

and bike helmets, and using carseats saves a lot of lives, but it is

hard to tell what kind of damage improper disposal of meds is causing,

as it's not " big news " (but it will be when the sewer bills start

going through the roof for increased treatment costs, or if more

wildlife is dying and they determine that to be the cause).

The media is always suspect in my mind, if I hear some advice on the

TV or in the papers (or on the Internet), I always do my darnedest to

confirm it multiple places and also understand the logic behind it.

For example, I didn't start on the Atkins diet until I researched both

the " pundits' views " and also the biochemistry behind it.

Perhaps requiring the pharmacies to take back old drugs (with a slight

surcharge on prescriptions) and dispose of them will be the future

solution to this issue, but I'm not aware of many facilities that will

do that. It would be an interesting poll to ask the pharmacies what

they do if someone calls about returning an old prescription for

disposal, are they telling people to flush them?

I suppose we should remember that all of the OTC medicines and

supplements and vitamins that we take should be treated the same way

in terms of disposal...

Take care,

RH

>

> well my point is places like news shows on tv and the like tell you

to

> dispose down the toilet so just how many people do you think do the

same....it is a

> common culture.

> For safe disposal one can always get a biohazard container sold in

most

> pharmacies (diabetics use this to dispose of their needles) and

either turn it in

> to a dr or dispose of it in the regular trash. Vivian

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

How about cat litter? There isn't much else you can do but put it in the

dumpster?

I to this day will not eat cottage cheese after watching all the flies and other

flying insects " swarming " around the drippy, smelly piece of cheese cloth that

the makings for the cottage cheese was in. How many of you have ever gathered

eggs or ran a grocery store where when the farm eggs came in you had to clean

them off and " candle " them?

How many of you have ever ran the seperator after the cows were milked and the

milk buckets were sitting on the floor full of the milk room with (trying not to

be repitious) the flies and other flying, biting insects flying around and

" hopefully " not waiting to be put thru the seperator, nasty?

Of course any of the pancake batter was never throw out it was saved in the " ice

box " as a " starter " for the next morning, but of course my Grandmother never got

it put up right away as she was too busy putting a saucer over the syrup and

melting butter from breakfast as she was shooing away those same critters I have

mentioned before. Of course the " slop bucket " for all the garbage went into the

pigs food sat on the unscreened, open porch which was part of the reason for the

infestation of insects.

How many of you have ever watched them make a fire in the side yard (near where

the cottage cheese was hanging on the line) put a what looked to me like the

witches pot in this day and age while my Aunt five years older that me got gunny

sacks to put chickens in after we captured them for killing and dressing. My

Mother would " wring " the chicken's neck toss it down so it could run all around

without it's head throwing blood all over everything (including the cottage

cheese). Can anyone visualize the sight of 12 to 15 headless chickens running

in circles while my Aunt and I are trying to carry buckets of water from the

well (after we pumped the buckets full) and carried them two at a time so they

could have clean (?) and dirty water both boiling at the same time with the

steam and smoke all over us? Dolores

ohgminion rakshasis@...> wrote:

Definitely, I think it shows how some of the stuff we did as younger

folks and kids is now considered unsafe. For example, no one used car

seats for kids 30 years ago, now if you don't use one you'll get a

ticket and if anything happens to the child you'll get charged with

child endangerment.

My mom used to always clean with ammonia, and my godmother said her

mom used carbon tetrachloride as a cleaner " all the time " . And no one

ever cared (or maybe didn't know) what chemicals were sprayed on their

vegetables and fruits.

I do like to think that using seatbelts, wearing motorcycle helmets

and bike helmets, and using carseats saves a lot of lives, but it is

hard to tell what kind of damage improper disposal of meds is causing,

as it's not " big news " (but it will be when the sewer bills start

going through the roof for increased treatment costs, or if more

wildlife is dying and they determine that to be the cause).

The media is always suspect in my mind, if I hear some advice on the

TV or in the papers (or on the Internet), I always do my darnedest to

confirm it multiple places and also understand the logic behind it.

For example, I didn't start on the Atkins diet until I researched both

the " pundits' views " and also the biochemistry behind it.

Perhaps requiring the pharmacies to take back old drugs (with a slight

surcharge on prescriptions) and dispose of them will be the future

solution to this issue, but I'm not aware of many facilities that will

do that. It would be an interesting poll to ask the pharmacies what

they do if someone calls about returning an old prescription for

disposal, are they telling people to flush them?

I suppose we should remember that all of the OTC medicines and

supplements and vitamins that we take should be treated the same way

in terms of disposal...

Take care,

RH

>

> well my point is places like news shows on tv and the like tell you

to

> dispose down the toilet so just how many people do you think do the

same....it is a

> common culture.

> For safe disposal one can always get a biohazard container sold in

most

> pharmacies (diabetics use this to dispose of their needles) and

either turn it in

> to a dr or dispose of it in the regular trash. Vivian

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I just called my pharmacy and they said there is no good answer, but

incinerating. That changes the chemical properties of the drug, but it

is still pollution. Since there is no real guidance regarding this, at

least in our state. our pharmacy melts all the pills down and puts them

in the trash in a sealed container. They admit it is not the best, but

it is better than kids being able to easily get their hands on it.

>

>Perhaps requiring the pharmacies to take back old drugs (with a slight

>surcharge on prescriptions) and dispose of them will be the future

>solution to this issue, but I'm not aware of many facilities that will

>do that. It would be an interesting poll to ask the pharmacies what

>they do if someone calls about returning an old prescription for

>disposal, are they telling people to flush them?

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I have always just taken old prescriptions to my

pharmacist, they will take them and dispose of them safely.

Not a great idea to add stuff into the sewage system

usually, it's not guaranteed that they can clean it out of

there ...

my 2 cents

--

***********************************************************

Kelta Vineyard

__________________________________________________________

Find your next car at http://autos.yahoo.ca

[Guest guest]

My problem with taking anything anywhere requires me either paying $2.00 each

way and I have to be there at least and hour for The Lift (bus for the

handicapped) to transport me as when my son, grandson, a church member or other

person that I can find to take me on the grocery store don't enjoy being asked

to make extra non-essential stops and I certainly can't blame them for that. My

52 year old son drives from Topeka, KS to Kansas City, KS and back to Topeka

every day after he works out in the elements all day as a trackman for

Burlington Northern-Santa Fe five days a week, at least eight hours daily. My

27 year old grandson has three daughters and works 12 to 18 hours five days a

weeks as a surgical technician for St. Francis hospital and is usually on call

part of the weekend so their time is very limited. When someone from my church

takes me I go to the grocery store of their choice and only there as I simply am

thrilled to be able to ride along with them, so what works well

for some, doesn't for others like me that gave up driving due to loss of

mobility in my right leg and problems with my left leg. My two cents worth,

Dolores

Drotos rdrotos@...> wrote:I have always just taken old

prescriptions to my

pharmacist, they will take them and dispose of them safely.

Not a great idea to add stuff into the sewage system

usually, it's not guaranteed that they can clean it out of

there ...

my 2 cents

--

***********************************************************

Kelta Vineyard

__________________________________________________________

Find your next car at http://autos.yahoo.ca

Medical advice, information, opinions, data and statements contained herein are

not necessarily those of the list moderators. The author of this e mail is

entirely responsible for its content. List members are reminded of their

responsibility to evaluate the content of the postings and consult with their

physicians regarding changes in their own treatment.

Personal attacks are not permitted on the list and anyone who sends one is

automatically moderated or removed depending on the severity of the attack.