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I wish that I had thought to take a picture of the pile of prescription drugs Mike had accumulated last summer. I do not even have the list with me here, but he was taking pills for blood pressure, heart rate, stroke prevention, cholesterol, GERD, and probably a couple of other things that don't come to mind right now. He was taking pills to mitigate the side effects of some of the other pills. And, my, my, he had plans with that stash of viagra. Then he had about three different medications for gout symptoms, two different prescription narcotic pain killers. and a very expensive cream for skin cancer lesions on his head.
He had reordered a three month supply just before he went into hospital and many of the bottles were never even opened. There were A LOT of pills in his drawer.
He used an on-line pharmacy. I called them. They would not take anything back even if it had not been opened. I went to the local pharmacy he sometimes used. They would not take anything. I called the pharmacy that I used (because I passed it on my way to and from work years ago) and they said they would take it off my hands and send it to some place in Texas where it would be incinerated.
"You can't use it? Not even the unopened stuff? I mean can't it go to a vet clinic or mission clinic or something??."
No, it had to be destroyed. Oh, and they could not take the narcotic stuff. Great.
I know this is for the general safety...although that does not explain the narcotics left floating out there, but what a waste.
That is truly sad that all that medication will got to waste when so many people can't afford their prescriptions.
ReplyDeleteWell, it is a precaution against fraud. Too bad your husband had to take so many meds.
ReplyDeleteDitto what Kc W said ... sad anything has to go to waste when somewhere someone could use it.
ReplyDeleteI guess I understand it. It is somewhat like food brought to the table at the restaurant and if not touched it still goes in the trash. There is no lab that insure that the medication is untainted, the right dose or even what it says it is.
ReplyDeleteIt must be tough to go thru those medications and remember all the difficulties. But now, on a lighter note ... you can send along all those extra Viagra to me if you want to. (Just kidding!)
ReplyDeleteWe have a great organization here called "Health for Friends" and they run a free clinic. They took all my mother's medications when she passed away and used them if they were unopened. They took medical equipment as well. It felt good that it was helping someone else.
ReplyDeleteThat is the kind of thing I was hoping to find because so much of it was unopened...and it was so very expensive. I don't understand how people can afford to be sick.
DeleteJust think of all the prescription meds that are trashed. I hope they don't end up as pollution in landfills and in water. You'd think some free clinics could use the unopened ones, but in this age of lawsuits, I suppose it's too risky.
ReplyDeleteIt just strikes me as sad that someone cannot do a good deed because of the the few who act with criminal intent. I do understand the safety and protection aspect, but it is sad that it has to be that way.
DeleteIf I were a betting man, I would place odds that the pharmaceutical industrial complex lobbied hard to not allow drugs to be recycled--even the unopened ones...safety and all that.
ReplyDeleteWhat a shame. I understand the pitfalls and safety concerns, yet think surely all of those people dying because they can't medicate and eat also makes it seem so ridiculous. There must be a better answer.
ReplyDeleteI've always wondered what to do about those expired medications. I hated to just throw them in the trash. I'm afraid my Art has a bunch of those same sort of medications also. Not the Viagra though. :-)
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