What should you do with expired pills

I discover some perfectly good food of uncertain age in the refrigerator. She wants to throw it away — better safe than sorry! I say if the color looks right, it smells like food, and tastes alright, we should eat it.

And with that another perfectly good pasta dish or was that chicken? We have similar discussions about expired medications. I'd heard medications were often safe and effective well past their expiration date ; she's ready to throw them out if they're even close to the date on the bottle. The U. Air Force started a study in described here and later extended it to other military services in the early s. The military had gathered a stockpile of medications worth more than a billion dollars that were close to or past their expiration dates.

No one wanted to throw away expensive medications that might still be safe and effective. So the drugs were extensively tested with oversight by the U. Well, sort of. Before ignoring expiration dates on medications, there are a few caveats to keep in mind:. How will you know? Check the label or the patient information leaflet with your medicine. Or consult the U. Disposing medicines in household trash: If a take back program is not available, almost all medicines, except those on the FDA flush list see below , can be thrown into your household trash.

These include prescription and over-the-counter OTC drugs in pills, liquids, drops, patches, and creams. This adhesive patch delivers a strong pain medicine through the skin. Even after a patch is used, a lot of the medicine remains. One environmental concern involves inhalers used by people who have asthma or other breathing problems, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Read handling instructions on the labeling of inhalers and aerosol products.

Medicine — even medicine that's expired or seems like it would be harmless to most people — can be dangerous if not disposed of safely. It might fall into the wrong hands, along with your private health information if it's a prescription. Or kids or pets might find it and mistake it for treats. Expired medicine might not work as well or even at all, which is risky if it is meant to be life-saving. It may get contaminated with bacteria, or break down into toxic chemicals.

The best way to get rid of medicine you no longer need is to take it to a medicine disposal program run by a pharmacy, community organization, or government agency. You can search online for drug "take-back" programs in your area or ask at your local police station. If there's no "take-back" program near you, throw the medicine out, either by putting it in the trash or flushing it down the toilet or sink.

Putting medicines in the trash: You can throw away most medicines after destroying them. Flushing medicines: A few medicines are especially dangerous if taken inappropriately or accidentally, such as opioids.