Along with the more pleasant tasks of pre-retirement preparation is the unfortunate reality that medication management must also be handled. Prescription drugs typically have expiration dates. It is important to manage those deadlines to keep your medicine in the best possible condition and to prevent accidents from happening. This guide from Senior Helpers Cherry Hill will provide tips on what to do with expired medication and how our senior care company can help make this process easy!
The Dangers of Improper Disposal of Old or Expired Medication
It is dangerous to dispose of old or expired medication without utilizing proper protocol. Unused and outdated drugs thrown in a trash can end up polluting water. These could make their way into our waterways when mixed with other waste products. Flushing them down the toilet improperly damages the local environment. If left around the home, they may fall into the wrong hands with disastrous consequences. This could result in accidental ingestion or even intentional misuse.
Local Take-Back Programs
To properly and safely dispose of old or expired medication, take advantage of local take-back programs offered by hospitals and pharmacies. Senior Helpers Cherry Hill can help seniors fill out the necessary paperwork and arrange these appointments with ease!
At these sites, medications are accepted in their original containers with identifying information removed. This process ensures that outdated products are managed without risking contamination. The Cherry Hill Police Department regularly hosts medication take-back events, designed to help citizens get rid of their expired medication easily.
Consult Your Pharmacist
It is also wise to consult with your pharmacist about what to do with expired medication. In some cases, the drugs don't need to be thrown away or recycled but kept in a safe place. Additionally, pharmaceutical professionals often come up with creative solutions for how to properly manage unused prescriptions. These could include returning them directly to the pharmacy for disposal.
Follow FDA Guidelines
When disposing of expired medications, always follow the guidelines set out by the FDA. Check with your doctor or local health authority to see what the protocols are for your medication. These guidelines are put in place to protect both users and the environment from potential hazards associated with the improper disposal of drugs.
Senior Helpers Can Help Senior Adults With Medication Disposal
Senior Helpers Cherry Hill is available to assist seniors with what to do with expired medication. We can help by aiding in the preparation and submission of paperwork for local take-back programs and providing answers to questions about FDA regulations. We are always on hand to ensure that our one-on-one senior care helps make life just a little bit easier!
To learn more about how we serve senior adults in the Cherry Hill, Marlton, Mt. Laurel, Haddonfield, Maple Shade, Voorhees, Swedesboro, and Pennsauken areas, contact us today!