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Proper Disposal of Medications

In February 2007, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) released federal guidelines for the proper disposal of prescription drugs. In the past, consumers were told to flush unused medications down the toilet, but this is no longer recommended in most situations.

  1. Significance

    • Proper disposal of medications is important for the protection of people, animals and the environment. Small children may find and consume medications that have been thrown in the trash, and animals may unintentionally ingest discarded prescriptions. Concern about drug-contaminated water led to the recommendation not to flush most drugs, although the majority of drug residue in water comes from people passing medications through their bodies, according to the FDA.

    Guidelines

    • Unless the label offers specific disposal information, most medications should be thrown in the trash after precautions have been taken. Drugs should be taken out of the original container and mixed with a substance, such as cat litter or used coffee grounds, to make them appear less desirable, according to the ONDCP. The mixture should then be placed in a sealable and disposable container. Mark out or remove any personal information on the original prescription bottle, and place it in the container as well. Place all of the sealed materials in the trash.

    Considerations

    • Some powerful drugs come with instructions to flush them down the toilet, according to the FDA. Powerful pain relievers, for instance, can be dangerous to children and pets and may be intentionally abused by some people. In such cases, flushing is considered the safest means of disposal. In some areas, certain kinds of inhalers used for breathing problems may be considered hazardous waste, according to the FDA.

    Assistance

    • Drug take-back programs are available in some areas. The FDA encourages people to take advantage of such programs. Call your local trash and recycling service to see if programs exist in your area. Your pharmacist can answer specific questions regarding the proper disposal of a medication, according to the American Pharmacists Association.

    Warnings

    • Never give unused medications to another person. The FDA warns that a drug considered safe for one person may be harmful to another. Always make sure medications are inaccessible to children and pets.

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