How to Dispose of Your Old Prescriptions

I was about to toss the remaining narcotics that I was given for my broken leg when I thought about how some people are insanely addicted to them and willing to do about anything to get some. I wondered if throwing them in the trash was such a good idea. I knew we were no longer suppose to flush them -- they can find their way into our drinking water -- but what is the best way?

I found the below publication on a government site:

-- Do not flush prescription drugs down the toilet or drain unless the label or accompanying patient information specifically instructs you to do so. For information on drugs that should be flushed, visit the Food and Drug Administration's Web site, http://www.fda.gov.

-- To dispose of prescription drugs not labeled to be flushed, you may be able to take advantage of community drug take-back programs or other programs, such as household hazardous waste collection events, that collect drugs at a central location for proper disposal. Call your city or county government's household trash and recycling service and ask if a drug take-back program is available in your community.

-- If a drug take-back or collection program is not available:

1. Take your prescription drugs out of their original containers.

2. Mix drugs with an undesirable substance, such as cat litter or used coffee grounds.

3. Put this mixture into a disposable container with a lid, such as an empty margarine tub, or into a sealable bag.

4. Conceal or remove any personal information, including the prescription number, on the empty containers by covering it with black permanent marker or duct tape, or by scratching it off.

5. Place the sealed container with the mixture, and the empty drug containers, in the trash.

I followed these instructions putting the pills with old popcorn kernels instead of coffee grounds and only the cap went into the trash -- the bottle went into the recycling.

This would be good information to share with patients when they are given a new prescription.

Welcome!

As the summer is nearing its end and my last year of nursing school creeps nearer, a sense of panic has settled into my bones... panic about the dreaded NCLEX exam. There is an overwhelming pile of NCLEX study materials that have accumulated in my house that call my name continually. Yesterday I actually grabbed a couple books and hauled my butt to the coffee shop where I spent a couple hours reviewing the endocrine system. While it felt good to study, the horror of the amount of material I had forgotten really put the fear of God in me. I think I will be making another trip to the coffee shop tomorrow.

There are a ton of books available, as well as websites, to help you get ready for the NCLEX exam. Here is one link that includes practice test questions: http://www.nclex-pass.com/sample_questions.htm. I had heard that the best strategy is to take oodles of practice tests and then focus your studying on the areas where you struggled.

According to the Mn State Board of Nursing, this is the website you need to visit when it comes time to schedule your exam: http://www.pearsonvue.com/nclex/ The closest exam location for me will be at the Pearson Professional Centers in Duluth (on Arrowhead Rd). Here is a link to the 2009 NCLEX Examination Candidate Bulletin. It's jam packed with good info.

I figure I have about 10 months before the big test.... maybe tomorrow I'll come up with a studying game plan...