What should I do with an unused prescription drug?

When prescription or over-the-counter drugs are thrown into the garbage, or flushed down the sink or toilet, their chemical components may be added to the water supply or soil.

Unused prescription drugs are also at risk for being consumed by others, accidently swallowed by children or even stolen.

You can help lessen these risks by using and disposing of prescription, over-the-counter or veterinary drugs in a responsible way.

• Take drugs as directed by your doctor or pharmacist. Don’t stop taking a drug part way through the course of treatment, unless you are having a serious adverse reaction, without first discussing it with your doctor. Even if you feel better, use up the entire prescription as directed.
• Do not put out-of-date or unused medication in the garbage or down the toilet or sink.
• Check to see if your pharmacy has a drug recycling program that disposes of unused or expired drugs in an environmentally safe manner. Pharmacies in Alberta will take unused drugs and properly destroy them.
• At least once a year, go through your medicine cabinet and remove prescription drugs that are old or that you no longer take. Check the expiry dates on non-prescription drugs, including cough/cold, pain, first aid, vitamin and herbal products, and remove those that are outdated. Take back any unused prescription and non-prescription drugs to your pharmacy.
• If you don’t know if a drug is still good, check with your pharmacist.