Recycling drugs that you did not take/no longer use

moonrakerz

I think 'elf & safety says that unused drugs have to be destroyed.
If anyone is taking them and claiming they are going to the "third world", I would be suspicious !

docij

InterCare send unused drugs to areas in Africa where people can't afford them - they collect them from GPs or pharmacists.

http://www.intercare.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1&Itemid=16

tugothy

I've worked in a huge hospitals pharmacy before, any meds that a ward requested then were sent back down to the pharmacy, if less than 60% of the pack was left it was all thrown in the bin, we spent a few hours a day doing this throwing out thousands of pounds worth.

Hippychick

docij wrote: »

InterCare send unused drugs to areas in Africa where people can't afford them - they collect them from GPs or pharmacists.

http://www.intercare.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1&Itemid=16

Thanks, I couldn't find anything on the web!

Old_Meanie

docij wrote: »

InterCare send unused drugs to areas in Africa where people can't afford them - they collect them from GPs or pharmacists.

http://www.intercare.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1&Itemid
=16

Well thank goodness for that. I was beginning to think I had been conned and needed to report the matter to my GP. Although I couldn't see why as it is an NHS chemist and would be subject to rigorous checks. I did know that drugs cannot be reused in this country because they may have been tampered with but was pleased that they were going to be put to good use in the third world as even a brief respite from the pain of rheumatoid disease would be wonderful for someone I can tell you. So it looks like health and safety does not apply so stringently to poor people. Although I have to say there was absolutely nothing wrong with the drugs I passed on or I would not have allowed them to be recycled.

Ken68

Can't see a business chucking good profits away, when it would only take a few minutes checking thru a magnifying glass to see if the packet had been tampered with.
Some medicine is £1 a tablet.

facingthefuture

I used to work in a pharmacy. When people returned drugs they were put into the proper containers and given to the health department.
There is a major problem with dumping drugs in your bin or toilet- they can literally contaminate our water table/supply!
The problem with handing out a packet of drugs someone else has handed in/recycled is that often their bugs are ON the packaging! You could literally be giving someone with a compromised immunity something awful!
You cannot rre-use the bottles for example because often 2 chemical can contradict and make something toxic, so if particles remain and get mixed up with another chemical - again, problems.
Lastly, there are all sorts of strange people in the world and some could tamper with packaging and it not be spotted. Would you want to risk it?
I am a fervent believer in the NHS but this is a very sensitve issue fraught with problems. I think the best way to save huge amounts of dosh is to get rid of the PPI's which are set up to fleece and destroy our NHS.
Please everyone, do give your old pharmaceuticals to the pharmacy. It is the proper way to get rid of them and they have the appropriate containers.

Nomad25

Think anyone reading this thread should go to the Intercare site before making 'tut tut' statements. Have downloaded info for my gp and will see if the practice will implement this scheme - splendid idea and doesn't seem too complicated [no HMG involvement!]. Thanks to OP.

Ken68

Something wrong here, if the tablets could be contaminated, why are we sending them to Africa.

Old_Meanie

Ken68 wrote: »

Something wrong here, if the tablets could be contaminated, why are we sending them to Africa.

Because as my chemist explained to me they are collected by the charity and I presume made safe before being forwarded on to the medical centres in Africa. Before my partner asked I too assumed that all drugs would be destroyed because they might be contaminated and returned them for safety reasons and as some of the drugs I take are not only toxic but cytoxic it would be very irresponsible of me to contaminate the water system by flushing them down the toilet.

However, since starting this thread I too have taken the trouble to look on the website and as a consequence I am now more pleased than ever that I can make people aware that this worthwhile scheme exists. Just think I am able to relieve someone's suffering and pain and perhaps even save a child's life because I have returned antibiotics that were not suitable for me because of my condition. And yes I know money is wasted by PFI but there are people now in Africa who desperately need this medication and if a bit of effort from me can help in any small way then I will do so.