HOW TO DISPOSE OF MEDICINE  

Don't Flush Your Medicines Down the Toilet!

A recent study shows that 80 percent of U.S. streams contain small amounts of human medicines.	Fish and other aquatic animals have shown adverse effects from medicines in the water.
Sewage systems cannot remove these medicines from water that is released into lakes, rivers of oceans.	And, even very small amounts of medicine have been found in drinking water.

How to Dispose of Medications at Home.

Follow these steps to protect your privacy and reduce unintended drug use, while saving the environment.

	•Keep medicine in its original child-resistant container. •Scratch or mark out the patient information on the label.		•Place some water into solid medications, such as pills or capsules. •Then add something nontoxic and unpalatable such as sawdust, kitty litter, charcoal, powdered sink cleanser or powdered spices (like cayenne pepper).
	•Close and seal the container lid tightly with packing or duct tape. •If discarding blister packs of unused medicines, wrap in multiple layers of duct tape.		•Place medicine containers in durable packaging that does not show what's inside (like a cardboard box)
	•Place in the trash close to garbage pickup time. •Remember to keep medicines away from children and pets.

 

 

Other ways to properly dispose of unused medicine. Pharmacy Take-Back Program Ask your pharmacist if the pharmacy will accept old medicines back from patients.
Help reduce drug waste. • If you're not sure if you can tolerate a new medicine, ask your doctor about a    10-day trial supply. • Remember to always take all of your medications as directed.
	California State Board of Pharmacy 1625 N. Market Blvd., Suite N-219 • Sacramento, CA 95834 (916) 574-7900 UCSF Center Consumer Self Care 3333 California Street • San Francisco, CA 94143-0613