New Year Good Time for Cleaning Out Medicine Cabinets
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In a recent media release, the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) reminded pharmacists and consumers that the new year is a good time to conduct an annual cleaning and purging of home medicine cabinets and other medication storage areas. APhA offered consumers the following tips for conducting this task:
• Check the date on everything in your medicine cabinet and dispose of anything that has passed the expiration date.
• Properly dispose of anything you have not used in the past 12 months.
• Properly dispose of any prescription medications you no longer need. Do not share prescription medications with others.
• Properly dispose of medications no longer in their original container or that can no longer be identified.
• Properly dispose of medications that have changed color, odor, or taste.
• Talk to your pharmacist if you have any questions regarding medications within your household.
For most medications, “proper disposal” means discarding them in the trash. Consumers should follow these steps:
• Place solid medications (tablet, capsule, etc.) into a sealable plastic bag and add water to dissolve them. Pour liquid medications directly into a sealable plastic bag.
• Add to the plastic bag some kitty litter, sawdust, coffee grounds, or any material that mixes with the medication and makes it less appealing for pets and children to eat.
• Seal the plastic bag and place it in the trash.
• Remove and destroy all identifying personal information (e.g., prescription label) from medication containers before recycling them or throwing them away.
The Web site www.smarxtdisposal.net includes a list of medications that should be flushed rather than thrown away.
Consumers who clean out their medication storage areas before the end of the year may be able to replace old or expired nonprescription medications using dollars from a flexible spending account (FSA). These plans have a “use it or lose it” provision that requires participants to forfeit the unused balance at the close of the benefit plan year (or early in the next plan year). Nonprescription products that are used to “alleviate or treat personal injuries or sickness” are considered to be eligible expenditures.