#60144 01-20-2007 11:32 AM | Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 5 Member | OP Member Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 5 | I have a stash of medications that need to be disposed of...any suggestions? I know that flushing down the toilet was done years ago, but no longer acceptable. | | |
#60145 01-20-2007 03:52 PM | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 493 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | Platinum Member (300+ posts) Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 493 | When did that change and why? I'm still flushing mine. I've put so much morphine/opiates down the toilet lately the fish must be rocked.
Tim Stoj 60 yr old. Dx Jun 06 with BOT Stage IV. Neck dissesction on 19 Jun 06. Started Tx on 21 Aug 06/completed 33 IMRTs and 3 CT (2 Cisplat & 1 Carboplat) on 5 Oct 06.
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#60146 01-20-2007 04:41 PM | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,676 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,676 | This is an interesting question- unfortunately it is 9:30 pm Sat. nite here and I can't call my pharmacist to ask, nor the septic system folks, nor the water treatment plant. But it is worth getting some good information on the "proper ways to dispose" abecause all of us have that "stuff" to deal with. Amy
CGtoJohn:SCC Flr of Mouth.Dx 3\05. Surg.4\05.T3NOMO.IMRTx30. Recur Dx 1\06.Surg 2\06. Chemo: 4 Cycles of Carbo\Taxol:on Erbitux for 7 mo. Lost our battle 2-23-07- But not the will to fight this disease
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#60147 01-20-2007 05:15 PM | Joined: May 2006 Posts: 720 Likes: 1 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: May 2006 Posts: 720 Likes: 1 | Michigan's Department of Environmental Quality has a brochure stating that the best ways are (a) to dispose of them in a Household Hazardous Waste collection program if one is available or (b) put them in your regular trash collection for disposal in a landfill. The brochure has suggestions for packaging them so that reuse is made much more difficult, if not impossible. The brochure notes that prescription drugs can interfere with the activity of the bacteria used to break down substances in wastewater treatment plants. Some cities have sponsored programs, in conjuction with pharmacies, where unused drugs can be dropped off for safe disposal.
Leslie
April 2006: Husband dx by dentist with leukoplakia on tongue. Oral surgeon's biopsy 4/28/06: Moderate dysplasia; pathology report warned of possible "skip effect." ENT's excisional biopsy (got it all) 5/31/06: SCC in situ/small bit superficially invasive. Early detection saves lives.
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#60148 01-20-2007 05:37 PM | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,676 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,676 | Thanks, Leslie, since we are on a septic system at our house, I have been stockpiling drugs that did not work for John and atrying to figure out what to do with them. I think the landfill disposal method is best [I guess] altho my grandson did a science project last year on landfill problems [which got honerable mention statewide] and now I am queasy about that. I guess we could just put all the drugs in a bank lockbox and pay for a 100 yr. renewal. Amy
CGtoJohn:SCC Flr of Mouth.Dx 3\05. Surg.4\05.T3NOMO.IMRTx30. Recur Dx 1\06.Surg 2\06. Chemo: 4 Cycles of Carbo\Taxol:on Erbitux for 7 mo. Lost our battle 2-23-07- But not the will to fight this disease
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#60149 01-21-2007 02:09 AM | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 | Check with your phamacist. I think they will dispose of them for you.
Landfills and flushing will get them into the environment and that is a bad thing.
Jerry
Jerry
Retired Dentist, 59 years old at diagnosis. SCC of the left lateral border of the tongue (Stage I). Partial glossectomy and 30 nodes removed, 4/6/05. Nodes all clear. No chemo no radiation 18 year survivor.
"Whatever doesn't kill me, makes me stronger"
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#60150 01-21-2007 01:46 PM | Joined: May 2002 Posts: 2,152 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: May 2002 Posts: 2,152 | The January AARP bulletin contained an article on just this problem and the fish 'being rocked' by all the drugs being dumped. It stated that 80% of our wateways are polluted by presciption drugs. They also did an article a couple of months ago on a guy who wants to set up redistribution centers for unused drugs for folks who have no drug coverage. Sounds like a plan to me. I order drugs for 90 days, but then if my dosage changes, I'm stuck with this partial unused prescription. I'd love to donate it so it could be used by someone who needs it.
Anyway, they suggested if you could not return to pharmacy and had to dispose of in landfill, to remove name from bottle, add small amount of water to pills or flour to liquid meds, so someone couldn't take it. Put the med bottle in a paper bag or container to conceal it and toss as close to garbage pick up as possible. I don't like the idea of this crap in landfills either because that leaches into water also.
I'd love to see a pill recycle program take place. It is such a waste to throw these out. But if you must, DON'T FLUSH DOWN TOILET.
Take care, Eileen
---------------------- Aug 1997 unknown primary, Stage III mets to 1 lymph node in neck; rt ND, 36 XRT rad Aug 2001 tiny tumor on larynx, Stage I total laryngectomy; left ND June 5, 2010 dx early stage breast cancer June 9, 2011 SCC 1.5 cm hypo pharynx, 70% P-16 positive, no mets, Stage I
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#60151 01-21-2007 02:25 PM | Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 188 Likes: 1 Senior Member (100+ posts) | Senior Member (100+ posts) Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 188 Likes: 1 | About two years ago in Wisconsin, they passed "Nick's Law" which set up a method to drop off unopened or blister packed medications and supplies for redistribution to those who need them but can't aford them. I believe it mirrored a program in Ohio. You might check with your local ACA rep to see if there is a program like it in your state. here's a link to an old story about it http://www.cancer.org/docroot/COM/c...tory_Program__Nicks_Law.asp?sitearea=COM Good Health, Chuck
SCC Stage IV right tonsil T3N3M0. Dx 08/03. Clinical Trial:8 weeks Taxol, Carboplatin then Hydrea, 5FU, IMRT x's 48, SND, Iressa x 2yrs. Now 20 years out and thriving. Dealing with a Prostate cancer diagnosis now. Add a Bladder cancer diagnosis to all the fun. It's always something "Adversity doesn't build character, it reveals it." | | |
#60152 01-21-2007 02:44 PM | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,676 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,676 | Good Information!! Good topic. Amy
CGtoJohn:SCC Flr of Mouth.Dx 3\05. Surg.4\05.T3NOMO.IMRTx30. Recur Dx 1\06.Surg 2\06. Chemo: 4 Cycles of Carbo\Taxol:on Erbitux for 7 mo. Lost our battle 2-23-07- But not the will to fight this disease
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