Your medicine cabinet may be making you sick!

According to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme’s (PBS) campaign to increase Australians’ awareness of how they can better manage their medicines, storing unused or out-of-date medicines at home may place family health at risk.

Some medicines lose their effectiveness, or can even become toxic if they are taken after their expiry date.

Community pharmacies across Australia act as collection points for unwanted household medicines. These unwanted medicines are securely transported and destroyed by waste specialists in an environmentally friendly manner.

Tips for safe disposal

• Check the use by dates printed on the packaging of medicines and dispose of any that are expired.
• Dispose of unwanted or out-of-date medicines safely.
• Dispose of any medicine which has changed colour or smell.
• If medicines are missing the instructions or the instructions are not readable, they should be disposed of.
• Any medicines not in their original containers need to be disposed of. They will be missing the important information on the label.
• Don’t forget about vitamins and dietary supplements. These products have expiry dates too.
• Don’t stock up on medicines - only fill a prescription repeat when you need it. This will prevent a build up of out-of-date medicines in your cabinet. Stockpiling medicines can be dangerous and also results in unnecessary cost for the community through the PBS.
• Once you have sorted out the medicines which you no longer need, don’t throw them into the garbage. Children or animals may still be able to find them. They also shouldn’t be flushed down the toilet as this can cause environmental harm.
• Please take all the medicines you don’t need to your local pharmacy for safe disposal.

For more information, please ask your pharmacist or doctor, phone the toll-free PBS information line on 1800 020 613 (free call) or visit the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme website.

The information provided in this article is intended as a guide only. Always consult your doctor if you or your child is suffering any medical complaint. Any websites referred to by Australian Family contain information moderated by government and medical institutions or organisations.

This article was first published in Australian Family Magazine, February 2004. Updated July 2009.