As spring arrives and we begin refreshing and de-cluttering our homes, it’s the perfect time to tackle one tiny space that’s often overlooked: the medicine cabinet. But clearing out your medications isn’t as simple as just tossing them away. Properly disposing of unused medications and medical sharps is an important step in protecting your health, loved ones, community, and even the environment.
Not to mention keeping expired or unused medications at home can increase the risk of accidental ingestion, medication errors, or misuse. This is especially important for older adults who might be taking multiple prescriptions at once. Older medications may no longer be effective, and changes to your health or treatment plan could make some drugs unsafe to continue using.
How to dispose of unused or expired medications
When it comes to disposing of expired medication, or any medication that you no longer need, the most important rule to remember is: Never pour it down the sink, flush it down the toilet, or throw it in the garbage. Although it might feel like the most convenient option, improper disposal of drugs can have negative consequences to the environment by contaminating water systems and harming wildlife.
The safest and most recommended way to dispose of medication is by returning them to your local pharmacy, such as ARTARx, who will dispose of them for you at no cost.
What you can bring back to the pharmacy:
- Prescription medications
- Over‑the‑counter medications
- Tablets and capsules
- Liquids and creams
- Vitamins and supplements
- Inhalers
Note that you don’t need to separate medications or remove personal information from prescription labels – pharmacies have procedures to handle this for you, securely.
How to dispose of medical sharps
If you or someone in your household uses medical sharps because of a health condition, such as diabetes, it’s highly important to dispose of them safely. Tossing needles or lancets directly in the trash can lead to needle‑stick injuries for family members, pets, caregivers, cleaning staff, and even waste collectors. Medical sharps that aren’t properly disposed of can also cause infections or spread diseases such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV.
If you aren’t sure what qualifies as ‘medical sharps,’ they include:
- Needles and syringes
- Lancets
- Pen tips
- Pre-filled syringes and cartridges
- Auto-injectors
When it’s time to throw away medical sharps, it’s best to place them straight into an approved sharps container after each use. There’s no need to recap or bend needles — simply drop them in and keep the container stored safely out of reach of children and pets. Be sure to not overfill the container and avoid putting your fingers or hands inside of it. Once the container is full, seal it securely and bring it to the pharmacy for proper disposal.
More tips for organizing your medicine cabinet
- Check expiry dates. If you’re unsure whether a medication is still safe to use, always ask your pharmacist before ingesting.
- Store medications properly. Keep active medications in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight – most medicine cabinets or bathroom drawers work fine.
- Speak with your pharmacist. If your health regimen has changed and you’ve stopped taking a medication, your pharmacist can explain why and whether it should be disposed of.
How your pharmacist can support
Pharmacists play an important role in medication safety. They can review your medications, answer questions about side effects, and help ensure your current regimen is keeping you on track with your health goals. A spring medicine cabinet clean‑out is also a great time to book an annual medication review, or ask about which pharmacy services can make medication management easier.
Taking the time to safely dispose of medications and medical sharps helps keep your home safer and contributes to a healthier community. This spring, consider adding your medicine cabinet to your cleaning checklist. If you need any assistance along the way, don’t hesitate to reach out to the knowledgeable pharmacy team at ARTARx for more information and support.