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Keeping
Rx Medications |
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Where
do you keep your prescription medicines?
Are they in different places-with some
in the medicine cabinet, some in the kitchen,
and some in the bedroom or elsewhere? As
a parent, grandparent, or family member,
it's important that you organize and keep
track of your medicines. After all, you
will want to know where a particular medicine
is when you or someone else needs to find
it. And you will want to keep your medicines
secure so that a child, or a teenage, or
even a stranger, does not get into them.
That way, you can help prevent an accidental
injury, as well as do your part to stop
the possible abuse of prescription medicines.
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Getting
organized means clearing out the clutter.
Too often, that clutter includes out-dated,
unused or unwanted medications; both over-the-counter
and prescriptions. The first step in getting
organized is to take a look at all the
medicines you have. You should try to do
this type of inventory every six months,
or at least once a year. May I suggest
during clocks & stocks time?
Start
by checking the expiration date on the
bottle-you don't want to take any chances
with a medicine that no longer works the
way it's supposed to. Some people believe
that expired medicines just lose their
potency and are no longer effective; wrong!
They can make you very sick; possibly violently
ill. Please don't take expired medicines!
Also, look for medicines that are discolored,
dried out, crumbing, or show other signs
that they are past their prime. Check the
expiration date for eye drops and eardrops
too! They may no longer be effective and,
worse, could be breeding ground for bacteria
or fungus.
Next,
look for leftover prescription medicines
from a previous illness or condition. You
will want to discard these since you should
never try to treat yourself (or anyone
else) with a prescription medicine. Your
symptoms might seem similar to what you
had before, but the cause could be different
or the medicine may not be the right one
this time around. |
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Don't
flush it! The old flush-it rule
was to keep it out of the hands of people,
or even animals that may ingest it and
get sick. Guess what? It didn't work. Flushing
it has done exactly the opposite of its
original intention. That medication
is now in the water supply!
Take your prescription drugs out
of their original containers. By removing
unwanted, unused or expired medicine from
its original container, you are ensuring
that medicine will not fall in the wrong
hands. Orange prescription bottles are
easily recognizable and can be stolen from
garbage cans and landfills.
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- If
you have pills, crush them
before you throw them out. Mix drugs
with
an undesirable substance,
such as cat litter or used coffee
grounds.
This extra step can prevent
accidental overdose by children and
pets and
also possible drug theft.
- Put the mixture into a disposable container
with a lid, such as an empty margarine
tub, or into a sealable bag. Place
the sealed container with the mixture,
and
empty drug containers in the trash.
- Conceal or remove any personal information,
including Rx number, on the empty
containers by covering it with black
permanent marker
or duct tape, or by scratching it
off.
- Another alternative to proper disposal
is to check with your local pharmacies
and county Health Departments.
Some have programs where they will
take your expired
prescriptions and dispose of them
for you.
- As of this writing, the Kings County
Health Department currently does
not
have such
a program, and the only pharmacy
in Kings County that will accept
expired prescription
medicines for proper disposal
is As Prescribed Pharmacy.
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- You
will want to
store your medicine in an area
that is convenient, but
is also cool
and dry - since heat and humidity
can damage medicines.
That's why a
bathroom is not a good place
to keep your medicines unless
you are able to keep the room
well ventilated.
- If there are children around,
you might want to find an area
where
you can lock up your
medicines. A cabinet or a drawer
with a lock
on it would work.
- The
theft and abuse of prescription
medicines is a serious problem.
You play a big role in keeping
these powerful medicines
out of the hands of those
who shouldn't have them.
Since it is dangerous, as
well as illegal, for anyone
but you to use a controlled
substance prescribed for
you, a locked storage area
can help keep a stranger
or someone else from gaining
access to them.
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- Storage
Keep your medicines separate from those
of your spouse or other family members (for example, on a different
shelf or at least on a separate side of a shelf). This will
make it less likely that you take the wrong ones by mistake.
- Lighting
Good lighting near where you store your medicines
will help you make sure you are taking the right medicine.
Never take medicines in the dark.
- Container
Keep the medicine in the bottle it came
in. The amber color protects the medicine from light. You will
also have the information right there including how often to
take it. The label will also have the phone number of the pharmacy
so you can call when it is time for a refill.
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- Don't
Mix Medications
Never mix different medicines in
the same bottle - you might end up taking
the wrong one by mistake. It is also possible
that some of one medicine could rub off onto
another and affect how well it works.
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- Remove
Cotton
If there is cotton in the
pill bottle when you first open it, remove
the cotton
and throw it away. The cotton can absorb
moisture and affect the medicine that is
inside.
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- Ask
Questions
And as always, if you have any
questions regarding your prescriptions,
please consult your healthcare professional.
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