Disposal of medications safely at home
Before discarding medicines or other health products, consider these tips for keeping kids safe.
WHAT to dispose of:
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Prescription medicines
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Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines such as pain relievers, cough suppressants, cold remedies, and sleep aids
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Other health products such as vitamins, diaper rash creams, and hand sanitizers
WHEN to dispose of medicine:
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When you have expired medicine. Check the label for the expiration date.
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When your family no longer needs them
WHY disposal of medication is important:
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Expired medicines may not provide the treatment you or your family needs
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Fewer medicines in the home means fewer safety risks
HOW to dispose of medicine safely:
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For all OTC medicines and many prescriptions, safe in-home disposal is easy. Follow this 3-step process:
Step 1
Mix medicines (do not crush tablets or capsules) with a bad-tasting or inedible substance such as used coffee or kitty litter.
Step 2
Place the mixture in a container such as a sealed plastic bag.
Step 3
Throw the sealed container in your household trash.
Other options for safe disposal of medication
Community take-back days
Check out DEA.gov to find out if there is an approved medicine take-back program in your community. Take-back programs can also be sponsored by police departments, municipal buildings, or pharmacies.
Flushing down the toilet (only certain medicines)
There are a handful of medicines that should only be disposed of by flushing them down the toilet at home or through a drug take-back program. FDA.gov provides a list of these medicines and specific disposal instructions.
