My grandmother recently passed away and she had a lot of unused expensive medication. Can I donate it?

In response to your question, can I donate unused meds? Unfortunately, if there not used by the patient they have to thrown out. That's the answer that I got. If you know of a family member who is on the exact same medication, give it to them, otherwise, I'm pretty sure they have to be discarded.
I know medication is expensive, but in the hospitals and nursing homes they won't let you bring your medicines from home, even if it meant saving the patient hundreds or thousands on their hospital bill. ...but you would feel better if you asked yourself, then you would know for sure.
I am truly sorry for your loss. Time will heal the wound of losing your grandmother.

We have a place here in Oregon that will take unopened medication bottles. But they also take opened bottles of meds. They give them to a vet nearby that uses them for animals when people can't afford medications. Win Win situation.

Check with your local pharmacist or doctor - some areas have community clinics that will accept unused meds to dispense to people who are not able to afford them. I have located such a facility in my mom's area & they are pleased to receive unused meds, (except for narcotics), to be used for this cause. Also, be careful about disposing of meds down toilet, sink or etc - as this is now considered a health hazard to our drinking water & to sea life. Best of Luck

Just to be clear Yes all the medication was paid for and I am in no way trying to profit from this. My Grandmother had great insurance and most of the medication cost us anywhere from $5 to $25. I know that there are people of all ages that are going without medication because it is cost prohibitive. The idea that I am about to throw away unopened bottles of heart medication and unopened antibiotics makes me sick. I am not a doctor and I don't want to give out medication. I was hoping there was some group that could take the medication and make sure it was properly distributed. In my opinion wasting this much medication is just another example of a failing health care system.

Thank you to those whose sent their condolences.

Hi---In reply to your question, I would say that you are probably best off to dispose of the medications..The reason is what is good for one individual may not be for the next..henceforth it will do more harm than good. Even a pharmacy cannot take back any meds that are sealed and unused. Also there is an expiration date on most meds - and that has to be factored in. The thought of donating the meds may be a good one-but in reality it could be harmful, or unknown to you-it can even be tampered with.

Hopefully this will be of help to you in your decision making.

Hap

My sympathy to you. My Mom passed away on February 27, and we are facing the same dilemma. We are finding that doctors will take back medications (in some cases) with the promise that they will donate them to patients in financial distress. My Mom used prescription pain patches, and the doctor has welcomed receiving these back. We are waiting to hear from the others. I have a feeling it might depend upon whether the container is still sealed from the manufacturer.

Sorry, Charlie, No meds allowed to circulate, even if it's the same illness. Toss the stuff. You did pay for it, did you not?
You did claim it also, right? Then down the commode it goes.

I tried to give away his glocose strips but no one wanted them and since the meters are free I threw them out and in my state they the pharmacies will not take any meds back if you throw themmaways do not wash they down the sink they can get into the ground water more docs should give samples away they get tons of them from the sales reps if the meds are in blister packs a pharmacy may take them you can ask

EXCELLENT QUESTION!
It is illegal to give drugs prescribed for one person to any other person even if the other person is currently taking the same drug. We are also discouraged from "flushing them down the toilet" because this pollutes our water. And we sure don't want them just sitting around our house for curious children or experimenting teenagers to get hold of. So what do we do with those medications? I asked my doctor that exact question when my father passed away. He shrugged and said the pharmaceutical companies ought to recycle them but they carefully evade that responsibility because it might cost them money. I did notice recently that a local, independent pharmacy started their own recycling program. You return and unused medications you purchased there and they dump them all into a big bin and haul them off somewhere to be cremated. All of the plastic bottles are recycled through the usual plastic reclamation centers. Perhaps you can lobby your local pharmacy to do this...

I'm sorry for your loss. You might want to go to the free clinics in your area and talk with the medical staff there. They may need some of the medication to give to their patients who can't afford them or don't need the full amount. Hope this helps.

My circumstances are exactly the same, but I was on chemo drugs and when the time came that they weren't needed, I gave them to the oncologist and she took them to use for underinsured or poor patients.

Grandaughter: my condolences for your loss. Be very careful. medication is only suitable for the patient it is perscribed for and i am fairly certain that u shouldnt give it anyone else. go to your local chemist and speak to the pharmacist or the gp's receptionist one of them should put you on the right path and should advise you how to dispose of the medication. i know it is a waste and your intentions are very thoughtful but obviously no two people are the same and you have to be very careful about giving people medication that is not perscribed for them. hope this is useful.

me too , since doc changes my dad s meds all times and theres bunch of em left .. waste his money and i thought about the people who cant afford to buy them could used it ,m , but then again i dont know if you can do that ??
i kept it unless if doc puts him back on it again so he;ll have em.

My grandmother passed away on February 13. She had lots of unused medication some never even opened. I know how expensive medicine is and I would like to donate it rather than throw it away. Anyone know if this is possible.