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How do I discard medicine that I no longer need, do I just throw it in the garbage?
Most medicines that are no longer needed can simply be thrown away in the household trash after being mixed with an undesirable substance, such as coffee grounds or kitty litter, and sealed in a container, such as a re-closeable plastic bag.
However, certain medicines may be especially harmful and, in some cases, even fatal in a single dose if they are used by someone other than the person the medicine was prescribed for. For this reason, some medicines have special disposal directions that indicate they should be flushed down the sink or toilet after the medicine is no longer needed. This ensures that these medicines cannot be accidently taken by children, pets, or anyone else.
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