How Do You Dispose of Old Medication?

Take it back if you can. The FDA says medicine take-back options are the best ways to safely dispose of unused or expired prescription and nonprescription medicines. It says some facilities and businesses are registered with the DEA to collect them, including medicines that contain controlled substances, and that authorized take-back locations may be retail, hospital or clinic pharmacies and law enforcement facilities. The EPA points to the DEA's twice-a-year National Prescription Drug Take Back Days in April and October at participating law enforcement agencies, and the DEA lists one on October 24, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For medicines that are not on its flush list, the FDA's household trash steps are to mix them, without crushing tablets or capsules, with an unappealing substance such as dirt, cat litter or used coffee grounds, place the mixture in a container such as a sealed plastic bag, throw the container away in your household trash, and scratch out all personal information on the prescription label of empty medicine bottles or packaging.

Flushing is the exception. The FDA says medicines on its flush list are those sought after for their misuse or abuse potential that can result in death from one dose if taken inappropriately. The EPA advises not flushing expired or unwanted prescription and over-the-counter drugs down the toilet or drain unless no take-back option is available and the label or accompanying patient information specifically says to. The FDA says it is aware of very low but measurable levels of flush list medicines in rivers and streams, and to a lesser extent in drinking water, but is not aware of new evidence of harmful effects to human health from these medicines in the environment.

Under a DEA final rule published September 9, 2014, patients and other ultimate users have three voluntary options for disposing of controlled substances, take-back events, mail-back programs and collection receptacles.