Spring Clean Your Medicine Cabinet

Wondering what to do with a medicine cabinet chock-full of expired or unneeded medications? Is there a better way to throw them out without endangering your family or harming the environment? And what should you really have in there, anyway?

Yale New Haven Health pharmacists are here with answers to your questions about sprucing up your medicine cabinet.

Expired? Toss it out

We get it. Consumer goods – including medications – are expensive. When a medication is out of date, it can be tempting to rationale that it’s “probably okay.” Should you really pay attention to expiration dates?

Yes, said Brianna Whitlow, PharmD, manager of Apothecary and Wellness Center, located at the Yale New Haven Hospital Saint Raphael Campus. According to Whitlow, patients with serious conditions are especially at risk of the dangers of expired medications.

“An expiration date on a medication reflects the period during which the product is known to remain stable, potent and safe when properly stored,” she said. “After that period, the drug may lose potency and become less effective. It may also degrade into harmful compounds."

The first step is to check the expiration dates on all of your medications. Each medication has an expiration date printed on the label. If your medication is past the expiration date, follow the disposal instructions that came with it.

If there are no disposal instructions, Janet Mattiucci, RPh, manager of Yale New Haven Health Pharmacy at Lawrence + Memorial Hospital, recommends disposing of drugs in your household trash by doing the following:

• Keep the medication in its original container. Remove the label or use a permanent marker to cross out your personal information. Duct tape works, too.
• Make medication less appealing to pets or children. Mix your drugs (liquid or pills) with hot water to dissolve them. Increase the yuckiness factor by adding salt, ashes, saw dust, used coffee grounds or kitty litter.
• Contain and seal. Place the medication inside a container such as an empty yogurt or margarine tub to ensure that the contents cannot be seen and tape it shut.
• Throw out the container with your trash. Don’t put the container in your recycling bin! Don't flush medication down the sink or toilet. Why? Because flushed medications can get into our lakes, rivers and streams.

Also toss out any loose or unidentified pills and any antibiotics that you didn’t finish. (Sharing antibiotics is a definite no-no, as is taking them without checking with a doctor first. When antibiotics are used incorrectly, it causes more problems in the long run.)    

Where else can I get rid of expired medications? 

Medication disposal boxes are available inside the Yale New Haven Health Pharmacy locations at Lawrence + Memorial Hospital, Bridgeport Hospital and North Haven Medical Center (6 Devine St.). You can drop the unwanted medications into the boxes and they will be safely and securely destroyed. 

Also check to see if your town or city has medication drop boxes. These boxes are secured in the lobby of the police department and are accessible any time the department is open. Find a disposal drop box site near you.

What to keep on hand

Now that your cabinet is tidy, it’s time to stock up. What should you have in there? In addition to your current prescription medications, Whitlow suggests the following list of general items to keep in your medicine cabinet:

Pain and fever relief: 

• Acetaminophen
• Ibuprofen or naproxen (if appropriate)
• Digital thermometer

Cold, cough and flu essentials:

• Decongestant
• Antihistamine (daytime and nighttime options)
• Cough suppressant (dextromethorphan)
• Expectorant (guaifenesin)
• Saline nasal spray
• Throat lozenges

Allergy relief:

• Non drowsy antihistamine
• Hydrocortisone 1% cream
• Calamine lotion

Stomach and digestive care:

• Antacids (Tums, famotidine)
• Anti diarrheal (loperamide)
• Oral rehydration/electrolyte solution

First aid and wound care:

• Adhesive bandages (various sizes)
• Sterile gauze pads & rolled gauze
• Adhesive tape
• Antibiotic ointment
• Antiseptic wipes
• Tweezers & small scissors
• Elastic (ACE) wrap
• Instant cold pack
• Disposable gloves

Skin care:

• Aloe or burn gel
• Moisturizer for irritated skin
• Antifungal cream

Helpful tools:

• Blood pressure monitor (if needed)
• Hand sanitizer
• Face masks
• Reusable hot/cold pack

Child/infant essentials (if applicable):

• Children’s acetaminophen/ibuprofen
• Children’s antihistamine
• Nasal aspirator
• Infant thermometer

How to store your medications

Remember to store your current medications safely. Mattiucci says you should follow these three steps: 

• Keep medications in their original container. Never mix or combine different medications into one bottle.
• Don’t store medications in areas that are hot and humid, such as the bathroom medicine cabinet. It's best to keep them in a cool, dry place.
• If a medication needs to be stored in the refrigerator, be careful not to store it in the freezer or expose it to a lot of moisture.

If you have questions about medications and would like to speak to a pharmacist, call or visit one of our YNHH Pharmacy locations.