When should I dispose of unused medications?

Medications should be disposed of promptly when they have expired or when there is doubt about their expiry date. They may not be as effective or the ingredients of the medicine may have changed. This can make them unsafe for use.

Similarly, medications that have been stored incorrectly may reduce the medication’s shelf-life. These medications may deteriorate under our hot, humid Malaysian weather. Some medications may show signs of deterioration, like a change in colour, smell or consistency, even if these medications are within the expiry date or when stored correctly. These medications are no longer safe to take and should be disposed of.

In addition, your doctor may change your medication during your doctor-patient consultation. You may be getting better and you no longer require the medication, or you require a new medication to control your symptoms, and the old medication is no longer effective. However, you may still have some medicine left. You should dispose of medications that you no longer need.

Storing expired or unwanted medicines can increase the risk of taking the wrong medicine due to mix-ups, accidental poisoning in children or pets, overdose, misuse or illegal abuse. Hence, it’s a good idea to clean your cabinets of unused medications regularly.

Medications should be disposed of promptly when:

• They have expired
• There is doubt about the expiry date
• The shelf-life is reduced due to improper storage conditions
• They show signs of deterioration (change in colour, smell or consistency)
• Your doctor has changed the medication and you still have some medication left