The Importance of Safe Disposal of Supplements That Have Expired
Whether spring cleaning or making a New Year’s resolution to be better organized, don’t forget that not just the kitchen has products with best-used-by dates.
Prescription and over-the-counter medications, including vitamins and other dietary supplements, all have expiration/best-used-by dates. Prescription medications typically have a one-year shelf life, while vitamins and dietary supplements typically have a two-year shelf life. So what’s involved in the safe disposal of dietary supplements and prescription medications?
To dispose of supplements and medications that have expired or are no longer needed, many cities have hazardous waste collection sites that will take these iteIn addition, the The U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) regularly schedules National Prescription Drug Take-Back Days. Typically these days occur in October and April. During these events, unwanted medications can be dropped off at collection sites for free.
If waiting for a specified day is just too long, many pharmacy chains such as CVS and Walgreens have medication disposal envelopes that can be used to send unwanted medications directly to be destroyed and some store locations have drop boxes.
Healthy Body Daily Vitamin Pack
Two exceptional foundationals - Cooper Complete Healthy Body Pack combines premium nutrients with a powerful, non-GMO source of omega-3 fatty acids in a daily convenience pack that you can throw in your gym, work, or travel bag.
$37.97 Add to cartSafe Disposal of Dietary Supplements and Prescription Medications
If you elect to dispose of unused medications in your trash, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) offers these guidelines for handling them:
• Take the pills out of their original containers.
• Mix the pills with an undesirable substance, such as used coffee grounds or cat litter, to make the pills less attractive to children or pets and unrecognizable to someone who might intentionally go through your trash.
• Put the mixture in a sealed container or bag to prevent the pills from leaking or breaking out of a garbage bag.
• These products should not be burned, so those in rural areas with burn barrels should not put these items in the burn barrel.
The Office of National Drug Control Policy recommends that before disposing of prescription medication bottles, the label either be removed or covered with a permanent marker or duct tape to prevent re-ordering by someone else.
Recommended storage instructions are noted on vitamin and supplement bottles and on the insert that accompanies prescription medications. As a general rule, products should be stored at room temperature, away from both excessive light and humidity.
Article by Jill Turner, President of Cooper Concepts.
Reference
National Take Back Initiative
https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/where-and-how-dispose-unused-medicines
FDA How to Dispose of Unused Medicines
http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/BuyingUsingMedicineSafely/UnderstandingOver-the-CounterMedicines/ucm107163.pdf