Medication Disposal

fetch, BSN, RN · Apr 30, 2015

My unused, expired EpiPens go in the sharps container. I don't know why they wouldn't? Without the outer package, but with the blue cap intact.

For pills, I get a witness (usually the secretary) and some coffee grounds (usually from the secretary!) and mix the grounds with the pills, double bag it, maybe with some unused Voban in the outer bag so people REALLY don't want to mess with it. Throw it in my trash can, tie it up, throw it in the janitor trash can.

Sometimes I get lucky and the local fire department has a 'bring your old meds in for disposal' day, then I just use that. Sometimes local pharmacies will do that too.

Expired inhalers, I separate into component parts and throw away in trash can. Remove children's info with a black sharpie.

OldDude · Apr 30, 2015

I used to flush it all down the toilet until I was told I was contaminating the entire Gulf of Mexico. But nowadays I do what fetch does.

schooldistrictnurse · Apr 30, 2015

Our local Police dept takes meds.

Jolie, BSN · May 1, 2015

We have a medical mission organization in our town that accepts Epi-pens that are less than 6 months out of date for use on overseas trips.

Nice to see them go to good use :)

Flare, ASN, BSN · May 1, 2015

i'd love to again connect with a mission that would take my expired epipens - last time i was able to send them en masse has to Haiti when they had their earthquake.

My other meds are taken by my PD as well, they have a handy-dandy box in their lobby where i can make my drop.

JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN · May 1, 2015

I also drop off other meds with my local PD. (That is, the ones that kids/parents do not pick up at the end of the year, etc. after reminders.)

I love the idea of expired Epi-pens being put to use elsewhere! A lot of recent research proves that a recently expired Epi-Pen is just as effective as one with a valid expiration date.

(That being said, I have held on to Epi-pens for kids that expire during the school year while waiting for new ones to come in - it is a trial to get a new Epi-pen sometimes. Rock/hard place if I need to use an expired pen, of course.)

AdobeRN · May 1, 2015

Our maintenance department takes care of it - we bag it for them and they come around after school is out and pick them up along with our sharp containers - I have no idea what they do with it though. Last year they supplied us with nice red biohazard containers that we put everything in then can zip tie it closed.

Wave Watcher · May 1, 2015

I used to flush it all down the toilet until I was told I was contaminating the entire Gulf of Mexico. But nowadays I do what fetch does.

I use to live on St. George Island, FL (panhandle of Florida), I thought it was odd that every time I went into the Gulf I came out feeling high. LOL ;-)

NutmeggeRN, BSN · May 4, 2015

Would be nice if you could send them to Nepal.

OldDude · May 4, 2015

I use to live on St. George Island, FL (panhandle of Florida), I thought it was odd that every time I went into the Gulf I came out feeling high. LOL ;-)

Yea, that was me - hope you enjoyed it!

OldDude · May 4, 2015

I don't immediately toss the epi-pens. When they expire beyond a year I use them in training the staff. After we practice with the trainers I cut the top out of a cardboard box that is about 8" across. I gather everybody around and stick the side of the box with the epi-pen to show with what force the medicine is delivered. I always get gasps and startles from those who've never seen it. They're not expecting the noise, seeing the medicine squirted all the way across the box to the opposite side, and how long the needle is. Then I toss it in the trash (not into the Gulf of Mexico) since the new epi-pens retract over the used needle.