Unwanted Prescription Drugs

[oranger]

Here is a tale for you; A little old lady went to the Pharmacy in her local Tesco to ask if she brought in a bag of unused prescription drugs would they destroy them, as requested on the Pharmacy wrapper. She was met with a suspicious look....it all depends what they are, is it Heroin? She answered no, the Pharmacist then, condescendingly, agreed to look through her bag of returns and take out the ones he can destroy and give back the 'other' kind.

[douglas9401]

Is there some of your post missing, oranger?

[Tilly2]

That has happened to me.
However, I am not a little old lady.

[Spoonboy]

By experience, all Chemists/Pharmacies will take unwanted prescribed drugs from you.

[oranger]

Nothing missing douglas, she hasn't been back with the bag of tablets yet, so cannot finish the tale, but thought there his reaction may be worth a mention, she exected him to just say, yes bring in anything that needs to be destroyed.

[woofgang]

Pharmacies usually have a contract with the local NHS organisation to take back and dispose of drugs and things like unused syringe needles ....maybe Tesco doesn't have that contract. In order to do it, they need secure storage and or regular secure collection so if its just a booth in the Tesco, maybe they don't have the facilities to deal with things like heroin.

[boxtops]

Not sure what this is about, the pharmacist is wrong in this instance (if the Heroin query was a joke, it was in poor taste). They will take back any drugs and destroy them. It does seem a dreadful waste particularly if the boxes haven't even been opened, but they are forbidden to reissue drugs which have already been issued on a prescription.

I need to do this actually - the doc changed my medication so I have some unwanted unopened boxes in the bathroom cupboard.

[daffy654]

Our local chemist will only take back controlled drugs such as opiate painkillers and things like vials of insulin. They advise you to throw anything else in the bin.

[Tilly2]

They have to check what you take back. I was asked if there were any sharps in thebag!

[boxtops]

That's not our experience here, ours take back any prescription medication - some of it shouldn't go into landfill :-(

[woofgang]

boxy that is wrong, the NHS contract says they should take all meds back, not used sharps (which should be in a bin) yes they shouldn't go to landfill but neither should even stuff like paracetamol go out with the rubbish where children or animals might get hold of it.

Here's what the NHS says...scroll down to the bottom

http://www.nhslocal.nhs.uk/story/features/storing-and-disposing-medicines-safely

[woofgang]

and here "pharmacies are obliged to accept all meds"
http://www.psnc.org.uk/pages/essential_services_waste_management.html

they don't have to accept unused sharps though.

[wolf63]

I was actually pondering this earlier. I have two inhalers that have passed their expiry date. I got one from the vet and one via the chemist - I was trying to work out what to do with them. I was concerned that they could go 'bang' if I put them out with the rubbish.

I shall toddle down to the chemist next week.

[woofgang]

veterinary drugs have to go back to the vet wolf, chemists are not obliged to accept them.

[wolf63]

they are actually 'human' inhalers

[Eve]

I self inject methotrexate and have a sharps bin - I have to take the sharps box back to the hospital or arrange with a home care system for it to be taken, pharmacies cannot dispose of them for me and my GP surgery is not allowed to take it to dispose of.

[boxtops]

Your link is exactly my understanding, woofgang - they'll take back and destroy - no experience of unused needles but I know about sharps bins for used ones. I think oranger's experience was unusual.

[oranger]

Thank you Woofgang, I thought this was the case, its printed on the paper bag containing the drugs. I will inform the Pharmacist.

[woofgang]

then you will probably get away with it wolf...
Eve, i think the "not to the GP" thing is a cost issue because when my DH needed a sharps bin at home, it was taken away when needed by the district nurses and disposed of along with the surgery sharps. Sharps disposal is a costly business though and I can see why the GP surgery want to avoid paying for any more than they need to.

[gness]

I had to bury a box of used sharps under my patio because the hospital which usually took them wouldn't after my husband died leaving a half full box....no-one else would take it from me.

[boxtops]

That's awful, gness - added to your problems x