News Taffy

My husband took the time to reorganize our medicine cabinet recently and check for expired medications. You should take the time to check your own medicine cabinet at least once a year and restock over the counter meds like pain relievers or antacids. It is a good idea to get rid of old medicine simply because prescription drug abuse is on the rise and much of the misused medicine comes from someone’s home. Here are a few tips on storing medications, when to throw them away and when it is safe to keep using them.

Always store your prescription and over the counter meds in a cool, dry place as heat and dampness can ruin them or lessen their potency. You should also check the label for special storage requirements as some meds may need to be refrigerated. Keep medicines in a safe, secure place where little ones can’t reach them to prevent accidental poisoning but have the U.S. Poison Control number handy just in case. It is 1-800-222-1222. From personal experience, I can tell you that the good people at Poison Control are very helpful and will call back later to make sure everything is alright.

In 1979, the Food and Drug Administration began requiring drug manufacturers to label drugs with an expiration date. This is the date the manufacturer guarantees the full potency and safety of the drug. It does not indicate the point at which a medication loses potency and is no longer effective or has become harmful. The FDA does not require manufacturers to determine the actual long term effectiveness or safety of a drug, meaning that expired meds have not necessarily lost their effectiveness. There is no scientific evidence that expired drugs are toxic but a good rule of thumb is that if a medicine is needed for a life threatening condition or is essential for a chronic problem like heart failure, don’t use expired drugs. If you just have a headache or stomach ache, expired medication is okay but might not be as effective.

You should toss injectables that have become cloudy or discolored. Get rid of expired antibiotics too as using them can contribute to increased antibiotic resistance or your infection may not clear resulting in a worse infection or another round of antibiotics. Epipens should not be used after their expiration date as epinephrine has definitely been shown to lose potency and since Epipens are used in life threatening situations, this is a major concern. Throw away anything that might have become contaminated through use such as eye ointments as they are susceptible to bacteria.

Please dispose of old medicines properly by participating in a local drug take back program which are often organized by local law enforcement or by following federal guidelines which recommend mixing unused drugs with something inedible such as kitty litter or dirt, then sealing it in a plastic bag and putting it in the trash.

Be careful of flushing medications or washing them down the sink though it is safer to flush certain medications. For a list of those you can flush safely, go to the US Food and Drug Administration website at fda.gov. Before throwing away prescription bottles, mark out your name and other pertinent information. A little care will help keep everyone safe and healthy.