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Studies have shown that pharmaceuticals are present in Illinois drinking water. Possible sources include human use, veterinary use, and agriculture use. While only trace levels of pharmaceuticals have been found—at levels far below that which could affect humans—safe disposal of medications is an environmental, public health and patient safety issue.
Download Tips for Safe Medication Disposal, a brochure developed by ISMS, to educate your patients on proper disposal practices for most prescription and over-the-counter medications. For patients who have unused or expired prescription medications, physicians may first want to find out why, and counsel the patient appropriately if due to non-compliance or improper administration of medication.
Advisory from the FDA
There are some drugs, such as powerful narcotic pain relievers and other controlled substances, that carry instructions for flushing to reduce the danger of unintentional use or overdose and illegal abuse. If a take back program for controlled substances is not available in your area, then follow the FDA guidelines for disposal by flushing the following drugs down the toilet.
| Actiq, oral transmucosal lozenge |
Fentanyl Citrate |
| Avinza, capsules (extended release) |
Morphine Sulfate |
| Daytrana, transdermal patch system |
Methylphenidate |
| Demerol, tablets * |
Meperidine Hydrochloride |
| Demerol, oral solution * |
Meperidine Hydrochloride |
| Diastat/Diastat AcuDial, rectal gel |
Diazepam |
| Dilaudid, tablets * |
Hydromorphone Hydrochloride |
| Dilaudid, oral liquid * |
Hydromorphone Hydrochloride |
| Dolophine Hydrochloride, tablets * |
Methadone Hydrochloride |
| Duragesic, patch (extended release) * |
Fentanyl |
| Embeda, capsules (extended release) |
Morphine Sulfate; Naltrexone Hydrochloride |
| Fentora, tablets (buccal) |
Fentanyl Citrate |
| Kadian, capsules (extended release) |
Morphine Sulfate |
| Methadone Hydrochloride, oral solution * |
Methadone Hydrochloride |
| Methadose, tablets * |
Methadone Hydrochloride |
| Morphine Sulfate, tablets (immediate release) * |
Morphine Sulfate |
| Morphine Sulfate, oral solution * |
Morphine Sulfate |
| MS Contin, tablets (extended release) * |
Morphine Sulfate |
| Onsolis, soluble film (buccal) |
Fentanyl Citrate |
| Opana, tablets (immediate release) |
Oxymorphone Hydrochloride |
| Opana ER, tablets (extended release) |
Oxymorphone Hydrochloride |
| Oramorph SR, tablets (sustained release) |
Morphine Sulfate |
| Oxycontin, tablets (extended release) * |
Oxycodone Hydrochloride |
| Percocet, tablets * |
Acetaminophen; Oxycodone Hydrochloride |
| Percodan, tablets * |
Aspirin; Oxycodone Hydrochloride |
| Xyrem, oral solution |
Sodium Oxybate | *These medicines have generic versions available or are only available in generic formulations.
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