Prescription Drug Safety:
Keeping Seniors Safe at Home Drug Disposal Since pharmacies cannot reuse or resell medications, any unused prescription drugs are considered the patient's property. So what is the best way to get rid of leftover medications? For your safety, it is important to understand the advantages and disadvantages of recommended disposal methods. If Flushed When drugs are flushed, they can damage septic systems and kill beneficial bacteria responsible for breaking down waste in sewage treatment plants. If Burned Burned drugs can release pollutants into the air. If Put In The Trash Drugs can be scavenged and illegally sold, or can poison animals. To minimize this risk, keep the pharmaceuticals in their original container and enclose them in a double bag or other waste container. If Donated Some charity organizations reuse medications to help others in need. For example, local charities accepting non-expired prescription drugs include Matthew 25 Health and Dental Clinic (only non-narcotic, unopened unidose packs), and the ASK Clinic. Avoiding Poisoning
To avoid drug interactions, keep each of your health care providers informed of everything you are taking, including over-the-counter (non-prescription) medications, and fill all of your prescriptions at the same pharmacy. Ask your pharmacist to use easy-to-open caps if the child-resistant caps are too difficult for you to open, and request a larger print on the label if the text is too small to read. Be sure to read and follow all directions, including special instructions on the medication label. To organize your medications, use a calendar or chart to list the times, dosages, and any special instructions. Weekly or daily containers, available at most pharmacies, are also helpful. Always finish antibiotics. If you don't finish the prescription, you may develop a resistance to that medication and it will not work in the future. Never give into the temptation to use old prescriptions to treat a new illness, or to share unused medications with others. If you accidentally repeat or misuse your medicine, call your pharmacist or the Indiana Poison Center at (800) 222-1222. ________________________________________________________________ Medicine Cabinet Safety All medical supplies and prescription medications should be kept secure. Even something seemingly as safe as aspirin could cause injury if used incorrectly. Medicines should be reviewed regularly to avoid possible problems with old medications, which can lose their effectiveness or even become harmful. When taking inventory of your medicines, please remember: Check expiration dates on all non-prescription medicines. If a non-prescription medicine does not have an expiration date and you purchased it more than six months ago, or you cannot remember when you bought it, throw it away. Discard prescription medicines that are more than a year old. Watch for missing or unclear labels and discard contents from any such bottles found. Store medicines in a cool, dark, dry place. Make sure the storage cabinet and all medicine bottles are out of the reach of children. Do you need to clean out your medicine cabinet? ____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________ Expired Drug Quiz
1. What are potential signs that an over-the-counter drug is expired? A) Looks odd B) Powdery C) Smells bad D) Any of these
2. Why should you not take expired over-the-counter drugs?
A) Tastes bad
B) Ineffective
C) Drugs become too strong
3. Do the warnings about expired over-the-counter drugs apply to vitamins and nutritional supplements?
A) Yes
B) No
4. How does the law define an expired drug?
A) Over a year old
B) Over 5 years old
C) Only 90% effective
D) No effectiveness
5. When is an over-the-counter drug expired?
A) After one year
B) After 6 months
C) No set rule for when they expire
(Answers at bottom of this page)
SAFENET Identification Program
A Service for the Mentally Impaired
The Problem
It is common for a person with memory impairment (example: dementia, Alzheimer's Disease, etc.) to wander and roam. This can happen without prior warning. This behavior can be dangerous to the patient and to the caregivers.
The Solution
The SAFENET program, in cooperation with local healthcare and law enforcement agencies, can assist in the return of the individual who has wandered. This FREE service will help family members and the community to keep your loved one safe. If you would like to receive a brochure about registering your loved one with SAFENET, please call (260) 424-3505 or (888) 219-6868.
Sponsored by Allen County TRIAD
Dedicated to preserving the safety of seniors |
