Disposing Medications the Right Way

Are you a responsible shopper? You are a responsible consumer if you avoid using pharmaceuticals that have passed their expiration dates and dispose of those that have remained unused.

But there is still so much to learn. And one among them is the proper manner to dispose of your prescriptions once you’ve finished them, as advised by your family doctor in Guelph. But how do you go about doing so?

Let Arkell Walk-In Clinic & Arkell Pharmacy, your trusted pharmacy in Guelph, enumerate the methods you can do so.

Take-back programs, which are administered by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, allow you to return unneeded prescriptions. If your pharmacy or medical clinic in Ontario does not have a take-back program, you may choose to flush it down the toilet or sink instead. However, be cautious; the FDA warns us not to flush pharmaceuticals that are not on the flush list.

Any medication that isn’t on the flush list can be discarded with the rest of your trash. Combine it with something unpleasant, such as cat litter or dirt, to make it less appealing and reduce reuse. When discarding a prescription vial, remove the label and/or scratch off all personal information on the label.

There are also special medication deactivation bags that render medicines ineffective and are deemed environmentally safe. You can get them through your neighborhood pharmacy, a mail-order pharmacy, or an online retailer.

If you have any issues with your medicines or how to properly dispose of them, please come to our walk-in clinic in Guelph.

Our clinic, pharmacy, and family doctors are accepting new patients, so don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Contact us right away!