Posted by yxibow on June 10, 2006, at 0:57:37
In reply to What to do with leftover MEDS?, posted by deuce224 on June 9, 2006, at 10:28:32
> I'm sure doctors would tell me to flush all the meds I have left, but I feel bad throwing away hundreds of dollars of drugs like lamictal, zoloft, nardil, lexapro. Does anyone know if there is a donation organization that gets these drugs out to people who can't afford their prescription? thanks-joe
Well you have several options at your disposal. Since your medication will easily have a life of 2 years or more if not kept in damp places or extreme temperatures, you can keep them yourself in case you "revisit" a medication with your doctor and there is little point in forking over more money for the medicine.
Pharmacies will probably destroy them out of liability, because ever since the Tylenol crisis our entire pharmacy, supermarket, and other sources of products that enter our bodies have been wrapped and double wrapped in plastic and seals just so some malajusted person doesn't poison the sterile world we have created with tamper seals.
There are charities that will take medications -- I can't name them because I dont know them specifically but I know I have heard at one point in the past that old medications unneeded can be passed on and if you don't look too shifty I'm sure they will be glad to take your prescription bottle.
An article mentioning thishttp://alamaro.home.comcast.net/New_York_Times_May_18_2005.htm
And for example, the state of Missouri
http://www.senate.state.mo.us/04INFO/bills/SB1160.htm
Some states that have also established donation are mentioned
http://www.ncsl.org/programs/health/drugdisc05.htm
Florida's
http://www.doh.state.fl.us/pharmacy/ddc-general.htm
Anyhow, you get the picture -- some states have created legislation beyond the charity level for such a system, and you would have to merely ask your doctor.
-- tidingsJay
poster:yxibow
thread:654819
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060604/msgs/655114.html