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Toss Old Drugs In The New Year

Tribune photo by JAY NOLAN

Prescription and over-the-counter medications may look fine, but they can run the risk of contamination.

By MARY SHEDDEN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 30, 2008

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It's time to toss some of the stuff that's clogging your medicine cabinet.

Prescription and over-the-counter medications may look fine, but they can run the risk of contamination, inadequate dosage or weakened or changed chemistry. And leaving old drugs sitting around increases the chance that they could be used by someone for whom they aren't intended.

The American Pharmacists Association suggests using the New Year to clean out medication storage. Here are some tips to you get started.

•Dispose of any medicine that has expired and anything you haven't used for 12 months.

Daniel Buffington, an assistant professor at the University Of South Florida's College of Medicine, says ignoring the expiration date can be risky. "You just don't know. Whatever that date is, you should respect it," he says.

•Get rid of old, previously used nasal spray, eye drops, creams and lotions, which interact with bodily fluids and carry a higher risk of being contaminated with bacteria.

•Get rid of old medicine that is no longer in the original container, or can no longer be identified.

•Lose those leftover antibiotics. The drugs are designed for longer treatment (for example, twice a day for 10 days), so a handful of remaining pills will be less effective if taken for another ailment at a time different than prescribed.

Buffington says taking just 20 percent or 30 percent of an old prescription could even expose you to another infection. "If you're making a resolution, it should be that next time you take the antibiotic completely," he says.

•Store drugs in a secured space with low humidity, a stable temperature and ample lighting. Antibiotics and other drugs can degrade in places with high humidity, such as bathrooms. Unsealed bottles are more susceptible.

•Toss old meds safely. The FDA recommends you don't flush prescription drugs down the toilet or sink unless instructed to do so. If tossing in the garbage, first take the medication out of the original container, mix with a substance like used coffee grounds or kitty litter. This makes the pills unrecognizable to people who may dig in the trash looking for drugs. Place the drugs in a sealed bag.

For a more detailed list of flushable drugs or safe disposal options, visit www.smarxtdisposal.net. The site is a partnership between the pharmacist's association, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America.

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