Unused Medication

[MallyJ]

What is the best thing to do with unused and no longer needed pills?

[woofgang]

Robi, our bodies "digest" the medicines, they dont pass through us unchanged.

[Tilly2]

I knew someone would say that, robinia. They would be watered down though, wouldn't they?

[bhg481]

I seem to remember many years ago public information films telling you to flush them down the toilet - I think things have changed now and returning to the pharmacist is the answer.

[Baldric]

They don't go out the same as they go in Robina

[Robinia]

Ok, but I'm sure I was once told that some are changed but some aren't.

[ladybirder]

Does your dinner come out the same as it went in?

[stuey]

Ladybirder's comment reminds me of the complaint: "This food tastes like ...t!":)

[MallyJ]

Thanks for all the suggestions .... do like the idea of sending them off to help others and will investigate that option. I am declared well so would be pleased to think the left overs will be useful to someone else.

[ferlew]

I tried returning some unused meds. The pharmacist told me that once some pills leave their hands, they cannot accept them back for re issue....in case they had been tampered with in the interim.

[pusskin]

i returned my unwanted packet of antibiotics and steroids to my local chemist , and they told me to keep hold of them for a while in case i needed them again in the very near future. They stand in my cupboard unopened.
Fingers crossed i'll never need them again.

[MallyJ]

Seems you have to go through the Doctors surgery if you want to donate them. Fingers crossed Pusskin I won't need them again!

[Old_Geezer]

So not flushing them away: do you leave them in the bowl forever ?
You'd have nothing to go on.

[Millwallmike]

It's best to keep them in case your ever sick with the same ailment or know someone who has and to the person that said don't flush them down the toilet, why? That's exactly why we have water treatment stations

[Tilly2]

Oh that's ok then, MM. It doesn't matter how much we pollute the water 'cos someone will clean it up.

[gingejbee]

MM: you obviously don't know what water treatment entails...or what it can, and can't, do.

[Millwallmike]

Ive worked in a water treatment facility so i think i do gingebee.

Tilly2 the sea is self cleaning to a degree because of the salt and oxygen

[Tilly2]

Was the water treatment facility in Honduras?

[Bazile]

//It's best to keep them in case your ever sick with the same ailment or know someone who has and to the person that said don't flush them down the toilet, why? That's exactly why we have water treatment stations //

I thought that the medical advice is not to take any medication that is prescribed for someone else - even if your symptoms is the same as the person for whoom they are prescribed

[gingejbee]

MM: you may have worked in one...but you didn't understand it's capabilities or limitations.

[grasscarp]

Mallyj it says on my link you can send them direct as well
Unwanted medicines can also be posted directly to Inter Care, Medical Aid for Africa, 46 The Halfcroft,
 Syston, Leicester, 
LE7 1LD
.