What to do with extra dialysis meds

[Home hemo]

Hello,
I did post an intro, and I am actually the wife of a home dialysis patient who died recently (of cancer).

I have been able to find homes for all of our dialysis supplies (a training center), and other supplies (missions), but not the meds.  It just doesn't feel right to have them all destroyed.  Yet, I don't want them to end up in some drug dealer's hands, either.

Any ideas on how I could get them to local dialysis patients in need - and verify it was true?  None of the charities or docs or even the international missions will take risks with meds.  I don't want to be at risk for someone taking something inappropriately, either.  But I have a whole big box of Phos-Lo (generic pills and liquid), besides lots of other things (calcitriol, dialysis vitamins, meds for foot pain and legs, even epo and heparin).

Any thoughts?

Also, I'm glad to answer any questions about home hemo.  It was a blessing for us.

[Annig83]

I found you a website, where you can search for pharmacies that take un-opened medications. 
http://www.disposemymeds.org/

They may, or may not reuse them?  I am not sure, I'm guessing it depends on the pharmacy.  Hope this helps?

[Rerun]

There is a shortage on Lidocaine (injectable) so any dialysis center should take that.

[Home hemo]

Hmmm, we have just about everything here but no Lidocaine, too bad.

The link was kind but it looks like an effort for proper disposal not for re-use. 

I did find a category on ebay for over-the-counter meds, but most of his meds were prescribed.

Any more ideas out there?

[amanda100wilson]

It is actually a federal offense to give prescribed medication to someone else.  Silly eh?

[SteveK87]

I too have a bunch of extra meds..along with quite a bit of expired ones.  It's due to my wife switching meds back and forth over a year ago.  Any idea what to do with expired ones?  I read flushing isn't the greatest thing for the environment.  I'm not gonna lie I probably would if it was like 10...but I probably have over 300 pills total...about 200 being expired.

[Home hemo]

If you know any nurses or medical folk, they probably have access to a proper disposal.  I think they burn them or something.  Probably your dialysis nurse (not the tech) has such access? 

Or that link someone gave above is to pharmacies that take meds back and do the proper disposal, it looks like.

From another spouse who has hundreds and hundreds of pills here.

[jeannea]

I wish there was a way to pass them on to someone. But if you have to dispose of them, search online for when your county has days to turn in unused meds. You take them to designated sites and they dispose of them properly.

[stringbandbeth]

It almost killed us to dispose of thousands of dollars of  Transplant drugs after Bears transplant failed. Folks are dying because they can't afford their meds. I talked to almost all of the nurses/docs at the clinic and they would have nothing to do with getting the meds to patients having financial problems. I even asked if there was anyone who needed them that I could contact myself but They wouldn't even do that. I know there are laws and privacy policies but when we were having trouble paying I would have welcomed a call from another patient who could help.
   In CT the new law is you can bring any old meds to any doctors office to be disposed of properly. Most folks don't know this and flush them. This is very dangerous in a rural area with septic systems and well water!
   I think it's actually a crime here to give your RX meds to ANYONE.( Distributing a controlled substance). I think its shameful that folks are going hungry or losing their transplants after the Medicare Rx coverage runs out.

[Barbinska]

I had some leftover unopened meds and I gave them to my social worker at my clinic.  She mentioned that if it is unopened they may be able to offer it to another patient who cannot afford meds.  I am sure this is not standard practice, but hey, it is worth a shot.