discarding meds

[gettingoff]

Sorry everyone that I keep posting, this is the last question for a bit but I have a million bottles of meds full of norco, soma, morphine, butrans patch, percocet etc.etc. that the surgeons and pain management doctors had given me. I want to get rid of it all but is there someway of discarding that stuff and not pollute the whole universe? I mean if I throw it in the trash...will animals find it and take it? lol. Should I just go to my pharmacy and ask how to get rid of it all?? Weird question but I am afraid if I have all this stuff around that I might decide "I can take one today..." you all know what I mean! lol.

Many thanks!

[weaver71]

Our pharmacy won't take them either, but the local hospital will. Doctors aren't supposed to accept old scripts, but some do. Coffee grounds in the trash is a good solution, but flushing is not. Tests on fish in the Hudson River showed that almost all fish have some form of prescription drugs in them, especially benzos. I read a study that found 5 different benzos in one fish in amounts higher than a human dose. It's not a good idea to put water soluable meds in the water, sewer treatment plants can't filter them all out. Good job on finding a way in your area to dispose of them correctly. Thanks for sharing and getting the word out.

[abritt121222]

Most pharmacy will take unused meds and dispose of them for you I would go to your pharmacy and ask them about it

[LeaAnn807]

I was reading this thread and was going to tell you to go to the drug store, but then I read that you did!  YAAY!  I have not heard of the envelope thing, but it's a great idea.  I'm posting here in hopes that it will bump the thread up so more people will see this.  We all need to know what to tell people to do with old meds.  Flushing isn't always a good idea, and throwing them out otherwise can get people or animals killed!  

You did GREAT!  Congrats!  And thanks for the great info!  Everyone should check with their local pharmacy for discarding. Most will take the meds and dispose for you, but the envelope thing is great too! : )

Either way........the wonderful thing is that all that crap is GONE away from you!  Now, you can move on with your life and recovery!  Good job!

[quitinoxys]

In some states, the Dept of Environmental Protection has sites that intake all types of meds you just need to contact them and they will point you to the site locations.

[BlondeChick10]

Hi
Glad that you removed them from your reach..... At least the pharmacy pointed you in the right direction!  Best wishes.

[gettingoff]

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to let you all know that every single script drug is outta my house. Oxy, Morphin, Percocet, Norco 7.5, Norco 10, Soma 250, Soma 350, Butrans patch...gone gone gone gone.

I did go to the drugstore in my town, but they DO NOT take old meds back. They did give me these envelopes that you mail your leftover meds to a place that is environmentally sound. The envelopes cost $3 and you put all your stuff (has to be in the original containers) in and put it in the mail box. I had so many meds that I had to buy 2 envelops. Crazy! I truly hope they discard all the stuff carefully. I then went to the mailbox and just dumped it. It really felt so freeing!

Came back home to nurse my sore legs + back with heat and rest.

Just wanted to share how good that felt. Thanks!

[BlondeChick10]

Bring them to a pharmacy for disposal!

[OpenMind24hours]

This is a great subject. When my dad died in Hospice care down in Fla. a few years ago, I watched someone from the nursing home staff flush his pills down the drain. In our area we're warned not to dump our meds into the drains. Here in Michigan, I live 1/2 mile from Lake St. Clair, which opens up into the Great Lakes system, the largest fresh water system on the planet. Everything goes into the watershed and eventually winds up in the lakes. So, our medical centers sponsor med dumping sites.

[Menopause728]

I had a my pharmacist tell me to mix them with used coffee grounds in a ziplock baggy and they can be safely discarded in the trash.

[Bubulous]

Yeah we have that too. You should be able to call a pharmacy in the morning and take them there.  I would assume that they have this in CA.  If you call one and they don't they will likely know where one is.

[BarbRTR]

Also we have had several infant/ toddlerdeaths in my state from patches thrown in the trash.

[BarbRTR]

Around here we have places that come pick up unused RX's for safe disposal.
Call the Pharm.
Quickly! Get rid of them!!