Q. I was visiting my parents recently and went into their medicine cabinet to get some aspirin. I noticed that they had quite a few expired medications in there. My mom told me she wasn’t sure what to do with them. I know I should help them with this, but I’m not sure where to begin. Any tips?
A. Our medicine cabinets can fill up quickly with outdated medications and products we tried but never finished. It may feel like a chore but taking a few minutes to go through them now can prevent dangerous mix-ups later.
Your question is timely because the best way to get rid of old medications is through a drug take-back program. This Saturday, October 25 is National Drug Take Back Day. You can dispose of any unused medications safely and anonymously at local drop-off locations nationwide. Visit the DEA website at www.DEATakeBack.com to find a site near you. Some pharmacies also have year-round in-store disposal boxes. Call your local pharmacy to see if they participate.
Here are a few tips as you tackle the cleanout.
Take everything out – This will help you see all your medications.
Save your emergency medications – If you have medications to help you in an emergency, like a rescue inhaler, set these aside first so you don’t accidentally throw them away.
Check expiration dates – Put anything that has expired in a pile to discard.
Look for medicine that is “off” – Medicine can go bad before the expiration date. If anything looks or smells off, put it in your disposal pile.
Remove mystery meds – Add a medication to the discard pile if it has no label, or you can’t remember why you have it.
Restock essentials – Once you’ve cleaned out old and expired products, take a quick inventory and make note of any staples you may be missing. You’ll want to restock essentials such as bandages, allergy medications, and pain relievers.
Helping your parents organize their medicine cabinet is a simple way to keep them safe – and give everyone peace of mind.
Are you caring for an older adult or need help finding healthy aging resources? Our experienced staff is available to help. Visit us online at www.agespan.org. You can also call 800-892-0890 or email info@agespan.org.
Joan Hatem-Roy is the chief executive officer of AgeSpan, which serves the following cities and towns: Amesbury, Andover, Billerica, Boxford, Chelmsford, Danvers, Dracut, Dunstable, Georgetown, Groveland, Haverhill, Lawrence, Lowell, Marblehead, Merrimac, Methuen, Middleton, Newbury, Newburyport, North Andover, Peabody, Rowley, Salisbury, Salem, Tewksbury, Tyngsboro, Westford, and West Newbury.
First published in the Eagle-Tribune.
