How do I safely get rid of old or expired medicine?

Concerns & risks

You have expired and leftover medicines at home and want to dispose of them safely without harming anyone or the environment.

Causes & evidence

The FDA says the best way to dispose of most unused or expired medicines is through a drug take-back program, such as a permanent collection site at a pharmacy or police station or a DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day event. A small number of medicines that are especially dangerous if misused are on the FDA's flush list and can be flushed when take-back isn't available. For most other medicines, if take-back isn't an option, the FDA advises mixing them, without crushing tablets or capsules, with something unappealing like used coffee grounds, dirt or cat litter, sealing the mixture in a bag or container, and putting it in household trash. Scratch out personal information on labels before throwing away bottles.

Inhalers, needles and some other items have special disposal rules; check local guidance. Fentanyl patches are on the FDA flush list.

Flushing everything, or tossing pill bottles straight into the bin, ignores the FDA's recommended order.

What to do

1. Gather all expired and unneeded medicines in one bag.
2. Search for a year-round take-back location near you, often a pharmacy kiosk.
3. Check the FDA flush list for any medicines that should be flushed if take-back isn't possible.
4. For other medicines, mix with coffee grounds or cat litter, seal and put in the trash.
5. Remove or black out personal information on the empty containers.

Common mistakes:

• Keeping leftover opioids 'just in case'
• Flushing medicines that aren't on the flush list
• Throwing away labelled bottles with your details visible

ReportSpeedMan tip: Many pharmacies have year-round drop-off kiosks, so you don't have to wait for a national take-back day.

What I would actually do

I'd bag everything and drop it at a pharmacy kiosk next time I shop, flushing only the medicines on the FDA flush list if a kiosk wasn't available.

The trade-off people miss: keeping leftover pills 'just in case' feels practical, but it's a real risk to anyone else in the home, especially teens and visitors.

How you can tell it worked

Your cabinet is cleared and leftover medicines went to a take-back site.

Quick FAQ

Can I put pills in the recycling?
No.

Can I flush all medicines?
Only those on the FDA flush list.

What about empty bottles?
Scratch out labels and recycle or trash per local rules.

Wrap-up: Use a take-back site first, flush only what's on the FDA list and otherwise mix, seal and trash. Clearing the cabinet once or twice a year keeps your home safer.

Wiki: Sleep Basics and Insomnia and Common Cold vs. Flu.

How do I safely get rid of old or expired medicine: official sources I checked

• FDA: Where and how to dispose of unused medicines
• DEA: National Prescription Drug Take Back Day