Recycling drugs that you did not take/no longer use

Old_Meanie

I don't know if this is the right board but its a very old style theme recycling. I recently took a very powerful and expensive drug for my rheumatoid disease that I had to discontinue almost at once because of very nasty side effects. I also had left over drugs for rheumatoid disease that were very toxic. I asked advice from my local small business chemist because I knew the hospital would not accept them back. He said he took part in a scheme whereby returned drugs were collected to be sorted and sent to those in the third world who would not usually be able to afford them and my drugs would be most gratefully received. I was so pleased about this I had a good de clutter of my drugs and took several more such as antibiotics that I could not take to the chemist.

This seemed to me like something we could all do that could help relieve the suffering of others. So if like most people I know you have those unneeded/unwanted drugs lurking in your cupboards please just pop along to your local chemist and see if they can be recycled as I understand that even the simple over the counter drugs we take for granted are in short supply in the third world.

Thank you all.

Gingham_Ribbon

Excellent post. I had no idea this happens.

I think it's going to be best placed in the green and ethical board. I'll move it there later when more people here have had a gander at it.

lyndseyann

i always take un-needed mediciens or tablets to the chemist,as i know then that they wont end up in the wrong hands but i didnt know they went to 3rd world countries,so i have learnt something new today.thanx for the thread.

mary43

I've some in a drawer I haven't used........and some I've only used one of as they weren't suitable.
No idea if either of our chemists do anything like that with them. We've got a boots and co-op, both very small. I'll have a word with them ..........I'd sooner they went where they could help someone rather than sit in a drawer just because I don;t know what to do with them

simpywimpy

I took my mums supplies of steriods and morphine back to my local chemist when she died - all unopened - thinking I was being responsible but she said they go in the bin!

TomsMom

When taking unused tablets back to the chemist, hubby was told they put them down the drain!

phizzimum

I used to work at a chemists years ago and all the returned medicines/drugs were just chucked in the bin. It seemed such a waste but I can understand the logistical difficulties of getting the right drug to the right person. So it's good to hear that there's a scheme out there trying - let's hope it works!

mumoftwo

Old meanie, what a great idea, your chemist, was it an independant one or one of a big chain, if he said he was taking part in a scheme maybe we can find out more about the scheme and then find out which chemists are involved in this. This is a great scheme in my opinion and should be more publicised.

Old_Meanie

mumoftwo wrote: »

Old meanie, what a great idea, your chemist, was it an independant one or one of a big chain, if he said he was taking part in a scheme maybe we can find out more about the scheme and then find out which chemists are involved in this. This is a great scheme in my opinion and should be more publicised.

My chemist is a small independent business which is on the same road as my doctor's surgery. I initially took in the drugs because I had been warned at the hospital that they were toxic and asked if he could dispose of them. I was about to leave the shop when my partner asked what happened to them and he said that they were collected by an organisation which sent them to be used in the "third world". I presumed that they would be safety checked in some way. The chemist is a family business, they all look middle eastern and the women who serve the the shop wear muslim headscarves so perhaps its something certain small chemists do he certainly seemed grateful for any returned drugs HTH.

Hippychick

It seems a bit strange for a chemist to do this to be honest, I have returned old drugs before but was told that they would be destroyed as there is every possibility that the drugs had been tampered with and may not be safe.

Defra mentions here that drugs are classified as clinical waste and must be treated as such. I couldn't find anything on the internet about any charities that do this. I just hope that there is nothing dodgy going on.

Hippychick

Thinking about this more it worries me slightly my local council website states specifically that medicines cannot be recycled. I can understand why as capsules can be emptied and refilled with anything, tablets can be manufactured to look like other tablets etc etc.

I know most people won't tamper with medication but there is a small majority who do for criminal purposes.

Apologies to speculate but what if the medicines being donated are ending up being sold on the black market instead?

I would want to ask the chemist for more info on the scheme before I gave my medicine back, do they have any information or leaflets you can obtain?