Medicines are useful products, they are not like other products. Indeed, it is necessary to keep the medicine cabinet in order to know the dangerous or expired medicines. But where to throw away dangerous drugs?
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT DRUGS
Medicines are any compositions or substances that have prophylactic or therapeutic properties, allowing the treatment of animal or human diseases. In general, it is necessary to obtain a marketing authorization to be able to give medicines to patients. However, the drugs are followed by a specific labeling and a summary of use in order to give the essential indications for their use in the most adjusted regulations possible. However, each drug must have an expiration date. This is a date during which the product will keep its organoleptic and therapeutic properties. This date is indicated on the back of the plate or on the box of the medicine. The medicines that exceed the expiration date must go to the phase of "recycling of medicines".
WHERE TO DISPOSE OF UNUSED OR EXPIRED MEDICATION?
Most people are accustomed to throwing away unused or expired medications in a trash can. However, this habit should be avoided for the sake of the environment. In addition, when medicines are not to be used or are past their expiration date, the best thing to do is to return them to the nearest pharmacy. This is to prevent domestic accidents and to protect the environment. The question arises: what does the pharmacy do with these expired medications? The unused or expired medicines are transported to France, and then the Cyclamed association takes care of them. On this fact, the Cyclamed association has the role of eliminating and revalorizing the expired medicines by following strict environmental rules. This act is called "recycling of medicines".
WHAT TYPES OF MEDICATIONS CAN PHARMACISTS TAKE BACK?
Expired medications to be returned to the pharmacy are: inhalers, sprays, aerosols, ampoules, syrups, gels, creams, ointments and tablets. Other products, such as chemicals, medical devices, used syringes, etc., can be disposed of in a trash can. If the pharmacist refuses to take the expired medication, a complaint can be filed with the environmental agency.
In short, the recycling of medicines concerns not only expired medicines, but also medicines that exceed the shelf life after opening. If in doubt about the shelf life, ask your pharmacist for advice.