Disposing of Old Medications at Home

by Carol Chaltron on October 10, 2011

in Eldercare,Medication Management,Resources,Senior Health,Uncategorized

If you are unable to find the type of drug take-back program discussed in our previous post, here’s what you need to know to safely dispose of your medication at home:

  1. As a general rule, do not put expired medications down the drain or in the toilet, to prevent any adverse impact on animals and the environment. There are however, exceptions to this guideline. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends disposal by flushing for a small number of very specific medications. These medications may have a high potential for abuse or can be very harmful if they are used by someone other than the person they were prescribed for.
  2. All other medications can be carefully disposed of with your regular household trash. The SMARXT DISPOSAL* program recommends:
  • Add water to solid medications (tablets, capsules, etc.), to dissolve them. Then, pour the medication into a sealable plastic bag.
  • Mix in something to make it less appealing to pets and children. Examples include cat litter, sawdust or coffee grounds.
  • Seal up the bag and place it in the trash.
  • When disposing of medication containers, be sure to remove and shred labels and any other identifying personal information before you recycle them or throw them away.

* The SMARXT DISPOSAL TM public awareness campaign is a partnership between the American Pharmacists Association, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. You can find more information on the  SMARXT DISPOSAL website.

{ 0 comments }

The Best Way to Dispose of Old Medications

by Carol Chaltron on October 1, 2011

in Caregivers,Eldercare,Medication Management,Research,Resources,Senior Health

In the past, you may have disposed of old medications by tossing them in a trash can, pouring them down the drain, or flushing them down the toilet. However, there are concerns about those methods. Children or animals can find medicines in the trash and could be seriously harmed by ingesting them. Research by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shows that water treatment plants may not be able to remove all traces of medicines from our water when they are disposed of in our water system. This water contaminated with these medications may harm fish and wildlife.

The best best way to dispose of old medications is to take them to a drug take-back program sponsored by law local enforcement. You can contact law enforcement at the city, county or state level to find out about programs in your area. If you don’t find a program in your city, look into programs in neighboring communities. There is also a federal program held in the Spring and Fall. National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is Saturday, October 29, 2011, from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm. The event is designed to provide a venue for people who want to dispose of unwanted, unused or expired prescription drugs. You can find details on the Drug Take Back Day website. You can search for the location nearest you on their Site Search page.

If you are unable to find a drug take-back program, our next post will outline how to safely dispose of medication at home.

{ 0 comments }

EXPIRED MEDICATIONS: Is it Ever Okay to Take Them?

by Carol Chaltron on September 23, 2011

in Caregivers,Eldercare,Medication Management,Resources,Senior Health

Checking medications for expiration datesIS IT EVER OK TO TAKE EXPIRED MEDICATIONS?

The safe option is simply to throw out anything past it’s expiration date, period. The manufacturer cannot guarantee the potency & safety of the medication past this date and the FDA recommends tossing all expired medications. While some research indicates certain (but not all) medicines may remain safe and effective past the expiration date, it’s better to be cautious and throw it out. Our next blog post will cover the best way to dispose of old medications to protect your family as well as pets and wildlife. If you’re still tempted to take expired medication, here are some considerations to keep in mind.

  • Some old medications may become toxic, including some antibiotics & seizure drugs.
  • While not all old medications become toxic, others will lose their effectiveness, so consider how crucial a particular medication is to your health.
  • If the medication is not one you are currently taking, check with your Doctor or Pharmacist to make sure it’s still safe & appropriate for you to use. They’ll need to consider your current medical condition and other medications you’re taking.
  • Medication stored in a warm, moist environment (like a bathroom) or exposed to sunlight will degrade more quickly.
  • Some medicines may change texture, color or smell. A cream or liquid may separate, and old aspirin can develop a rancid odor. Such changes indicate the chemical breakdown of the drug and they should definitely be disposed of immediately.
  • To see if a drug has been recalled, or has an FDA Safety Alert go to:
  • If you’re still thinking about using an expired drug, talk to your Doctor or Pharmacist and get their input on the above considerations and any other concerns they have.

Please leave a comment and let us know if you have questions about old medications or safe medication use.

Additional posts on related topics:

{ 0 comments }

OLD MEDICATIONS – How to Identify Old Pills & Decide What to Throw Out

by Carol Chaltron on September 15, 2011

in Caregivers,Eldercare,Medication Management,Resources,Senior Health

Old pills and other medications may be cluttering your medicine chest because you’re not sure what they are, if they are still safe to use, or how to dispose of them. Here’s how to determine what you have and what to dispose of.

THE SAFEST, EASIEST OPTION

  • The safest, easiest option is to dispose of any medication that is past it’s expiration date. However, in many cases, experts do not advise simply throwing old medications in the trash. Please see our post, “The Best Way to Dispose of Old Medications” for details.
  • Prescription medications should always have the expiration date printed on the pharmacy label.
  • Over-the-counter medicine usually has an expiration date both on the outer box, and on the bottle or blister packs.
  • If you can’t find an expiration date, or the medication has been removed from it’s packaging, you should throw the medication away unless you are certain you purchased it within the past year.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON CURRENT PILLS OUT OF THEIR PACKAGING

You may have medication you remember purchasing in the past year, that was removed from the bottle. It may have been packed for travel, or stored in a pill box, pill sorter or even a plastic bag. Since many medications are similar in size, shape and color, it’s important to verify what type of medication it is. Even if the pills are still in their original bottle, you may not have the package insert with additional information that originally came with it. This includes details on why the medication was prescribed, warnings of other medications or health conditions that could be a problem when taking the medication, possible side effects and other important information. Here are some tips and resources on how to research your medication to identify it if needed and how to find package insert information.

Additional posts on related topics:

{ 0 comments }

5 More Websites That Make it Easy to Connect With Family & Friends

by Carol Chaltron on September 6, 2011

in Caregivers,Resources,Saving Time,Senior Health,Social Support System

Collage of families and friends connecting across 3 generationsThis is the second half of our feature on resources to help you stay connected to loved ones. These sites all make it easier to organize visitors, whether they are just stopping by for a quick chat, or they volunteer to help with caregiving two days a week.

Sites to help you organize it all. It can be challenging to organize and schedule caregivers, doctors appointments, physical therapy and other treatment appointments, medications and all the other necessary details. These sites help you avoid lots of tedious individual emails and calls back and forth and help you tap into the power of the internet to make it much easier to coordinate everything. Some sites below have other features; they may also allow you to share updates, or even search for professional caregivers. But the focus of these sites is to help you create a master calendar that everyone can access, and facilitate getting the help you need, when you need it.

• eCareDiary.com •CareCalendar.org
• LotsaHelpingHands.com

 

Sites to help you organize meal deliveries. These sites are similar to the organizing sites above, but somewhat more limited in scope. They help you avoid multiple emails and calls to coordinate all those kind offers to drop by with a casserole. Although they may have fewer features than some of the other sites mentioned, if organizing meals is all you need help with, they are certainly worth a try, because you may find them simpler and easier to use.

• FoodTidings.com •TakeThemAMeal.com

 

We need your input and comments . . . Which of these sites did you find most helpful? Do you know of other sites we should list? What other resources would you like to see us cover for future articles in this series? Please leave a comment and let us know.

{ 0 comments }

Top 4 Websites That Make it Easy to Connect With Family & Friends

by Carol Chaltron on August 28, 2011

in Caregivers,Resources,Saving Time,Senior Health,Social Support System

Connection to family and friends is critical to senior health and equally important for patients and caregivers of all ages. It provides social support proven to have a positive impact on health. Loved ones can also help with the practical caregiving tasks like cooking and driving to appointments. Whether you’re a caregiver or a patient, many websites and online services are available to help you stay in touch. All the sites below make it easier to stay connected to your social support network, and each one has unique features, but they fall into three main categories. We’ll cover the first type below, and the other two types of websites in Part 2 of this post.

Make your own web page to share info and updates. These sites make communication easier even if you are short on both computer skills and time. Free patient websites are easy to create, and can help loved ones share information and support during a health challenge. The websites can be used to provide frequent updates on a loved one’s health, saving you the time it would take to make numerous phone calls. Most also allow you to post information about visiting and sending cards, flowers or other deliveries to home or hospital.  Another common feature is site visitors can leave messages of support for both patient and family. (MyLifeLine.org is designed especially for Cancer patients, the other 3 sites below are open to all.)

• CaringBridge.org • TheStatus.com
• CarePages.com • MyLifeLine.org

 

In our next blog post . . . We’ll look at 5 other sites to help you and your friends & family stay organized by helping you schedule everyone from a neighbor dropping in for 15 minutes to check on Mom, to a relative who offers to bring a home cooked meal each Wednesday.

{ 0 comments }

How to Find a Clinical Trial That’s Right For You – Part 3

by Carol Chaltron on August 18, 2011

in Caregivers,Clinical Trials,Eldercare,Research,Resources,Saving Time

In Part 1 we examined basic resources to find clinical trials and in Part 2 we looked at how to set up alerts that will notify you of clinical trials you may be interested in. The right clinical trial can have great benefits. You get access to new treatments not available to the public, which may work better than current treatments. You get free care at top facilities and help expand our scientific knowledge which may help future generations. But, you must consider both advantages and risks. If you’re not comfortable with a lot of risk, your search can screen out studies with a risk level that is too high. In Part 2, we’ll look at two ways to do that, as well as other ways to further narrow the selection of clinical trials your search returns.

CONSIDER YOUR RISK TOLERANCE – If you’re concerned about possible risks, use an advanced search at ClinicalTrials.gov to screen out some trials. Under Targeted Search and “Interventions” you can specify the types of treatments you’d try. These include drug therapy, vaccines, procedures, surgical interventions, medical devices, and less intrusive options like lifestyle modifications, exercise programs, and education. Under Additonal Criteria, use ”Phase” to specify which phase trials you’re interested in. (Note: Clinical trials designated as phase I, II, III, or IV, indicate what stage they’re at in their research, including how much research has already been done. Find brief descriptions of each phase here: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/help/phase_instr and more detailed descriptions here: http://centerwatch.com/clinical-trials/overview.aspx.)

NARROW YOUR FOCUS – While the sites listed in Part 1 help you search by condition, location or other details, you may also want to try a site with a more specific focus.

  • Geographic Area: Choose the top Research and Teaching Hospitals in your area and check their websites. They may have a section to search for research being done within their own Hospital, University, or Health System.
  • Specific Health Condition: Do a search using the phrase “clinical trial” plus a particular health condition. You may find a site affiliated with a university, government organization or nonprofit that focuses on research related to that particular condition. RESOURCES – Here are a few examples:

Have you ever been in a clinical trial? What advice would you give to someone else who is considering participating in a research study? Please tell us about your experience in the comments section.

{ 0 comments }

How to Find a Clinical Trial That’s Right For You – Part 2

by Carol Chaltron on August 9, 2011

in Caregivers,Clinical Trials,Eldercare,Research,Resources,Saving Time

CAST A WIDE NET AND LET YOUR COMPUTER DO THE WORK FOR YOU – Use the sites below to find current studies that are right for you. Then, set up alerts to receive automatic notice of all upcoming clinical trials that fit your criteria. You won’t need to check back with the sites to search for new trials and you’ll never have to worry about missing an opportunity for a trial that is a great fit for you or someone you care for. RESOURCES:

  • ClinicalTrials.gov – Sponsored by the National Library of Medicine, they currently list 110,720 trials. Use Basic Search to search by medical condition and location. Try Advanced Search to sort by multiple criteria. To participate in a trial, select “Open Studies” under Recruitment (otherwise, they also list ongoing and completed studies not open to new participants.) Next, use some or all the criteria in Targeted Search and Locations to narrow your search. Finally, under Additional Criteria, set the appropriate age and sex so you qualify for the studies you’re viewing. If you need help searching, they have some good videos demonstrating the search process. Find a list of them here: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/bsd/viewlet/ct/index.html
    • Alerts for ClinicalTrials.gov –  They do not seem to have a separate Alert feature (to notify you of future trials.) One of their help videos explains setting up an RSS feed for your specific search criteria. This essentially functions as an alert, but unless you’re already familiar with RSS feeds, this is more complicated than the alert feature below, at CenterWatch.com.
  • CenterWatch.com – A global source of clinical trial info, like ClinicalTrials.gov (but not affiliated with a government agency.) Search like on ClinicalTrials.gov, but you can’t narrow your search as much. Search by “Medical Condition” or “Therapeutic Area,” then by location.

If you have concerns about the possible risks of a clinical trial you can use the criteria in an advanced search to screen out trials you may not be comfortable with. In Part 3 of this post, we’ll look at several ways to do that, plus other ways to narrow your search.

{ 1 comment }

How to Find a Clinical Trial That’s Right For You – Part 1

by Carol Chaltron on July 28, 2011

in Caregivers,Clinical Trials,Eldercare,Research,Resources,Saving Time

While a clinical trial is not without risks, if you are living with a chronic health condition, at some point you may want to consider participating in one. Only you and your doctors can decide if a specific clinical trial is right for you or a loved one you care for. But if you feel your current treatment program is not fully treating your condition, or not adequately addressing certain symptoms; you may want to research what studies are currently seeking participants. If you’re interested in a clinical trial, here are some suggested steps:

DISCUSS IT WITH YOUR DOCTOR – Your doctor may know of a specific trial they’d recommend for you, or they may suggest a certain type of treatment they feel you’d have the best chance of success with, or even suggest what to avoid. You’ll also want to do your own research. As you do, be sure to maintain an ongoing dialogue with your doctor about any studies you’re considering.

START YOUR RESEARCH – A good place to start is to learn more about clinical trials in general. What defines a clinical trial, and what are the risks and rewards? What questions should you ask of those conducting the study? How are participants chosen? What is meant by terms like “informed consent,” “placebo,” “control group,” and “double-blind?” RESOURCES - Following are some good sources of general information about clinical trials:

In addition to actively searching for clinical trials, you can also let your computer do some of the work for you and deliver information to you about clinical trials that meet your criteria. Our next post will provide some ideas for how to do this.

What other information would you like to know about clinical trials? Have you ever used the sites mentioned above? Please tell us about your experience in the comments section.

{ 1 comment }

Are You at Risk for Medication Errors? Part 2

by Carol Chaltron on July 14, 2011

in Caregivers,Eldercare,Medication Compliance,Medication Management,Research

Last week we looked at research showing a 60% error rate for paid caregivers sorting pills into a pill organizer. Other studies show patients, family caregivers and paid caregivers alike all need to do everything possible to protect against medication errors. Here are some highlights from the new Research page on our main website. NOTE: “Noncompliance” (or “non-adherence”) is a term used by researchers for not following your doctor’s instructions. This includes not taking the medication at all, taking too little or too much, taking it at the wrong time, or taking it with another medication or supplement it may interact with.

>>  Medication (and multiple medication) use is common, and more common in older adults:

  • Two-thirds of all doctors appointments result in one or more prescriptions.
  • 83% of people 65+ take at least one medication. Almost half of older adults take 3+.
  • Over 30% of all adults regularly take five or more different prescriptions.

>>  Medication errors are a far more frequent occurrence than you might think and as the number of daily medications increases, so does the potential for problems.

  • One study found non-compliance in 86% of people taking 3+ medications.
  • Adverse Drug Reactions increase exponentially with 4 or more medications.

>>  Medication errors & noncompliance are serious.  Studies show noncompliance:

  • Causes 300,000 deaths a year in the U.S.
  • Is responsible for 23-40% of nursing home admissions & 10% of hospital admissions.

>>  Medication errors and noncompliance can hurt your budget and your health:

  • According to one study, Diabetics who fail to take their medications as directed have almost twice the total annual health care costs (an average of $16,498) compared to people who consistently take their medication correctly (with an average cost of $8,886.)

It’s clearly important to find the right product, service or system to help you organize and manage medication. The right product can improve health and safety while providing convenience and peace of mind for everyone. It can save money…and could even save a life!

ORGANIZING & MANAGING PILLS: Is your pill organizer the best option?
Many people rely on the standard plastic pill organizer found at drug stores. That may be fine, if you only take 1-2 medications with the same schedule. The more medications used, the more likely you’d benefit from a service like AccuPax. AccuPax Specialty Pharmacy offers home delivery of your medications, presorted by dose into individual packets labeled with the date & time to take them. While AccuPax may not be right for everyone, it’s an easy, inexpensive solution for many people taking multiple medications. Here are some of the most important aspects of a Medication Management product. See how your current system stacks up and decide what’s right for you.

  • ACCURACY – There’s room for error filling your own pill organizer. With AccuPax, pills are accurately sorted, then verified by our professional pharmacy staff.
  • FLEXIBILITY – Even if you sort your pills with perfect accuracy, pill organizers lack flexibility. Most have A.M., P.M. and Bedtime sections. Yet, some pills may be taken once or twice a day, some every 4 hours, some every 6-8 hours. With just 3 or 4 medications, but varying dosage times, you may need to take pills 6 or 7 different times during the day. Compared with the 3-4 fixed sections in a pill organizer, AccuPax offers limitless flexibility, customized for your exact medication regime.
  • TIMING – Because AccuPax packets are labeled with date and time, they’re handy if you can’t remember if you took your last dose of pills, or to check when to take the next dose. The packets come in order on a strip, with a special dispenser box. Just pull the next packet out of the box, to see exactly where you stand. For some, a timer or reminder service is also an important aspect of their medication management system. I recently did a post with a number of resources for timers and reminders which I encourage you to check out here:  Medication Reminders.

Do you have a system for sorting, organizing and remembering medications? What do you like about your current system…what frustrates you? Please leave a comment and share an idea to help other readers manage their medications. Check back often to see what’s new on our blog. We’ll be sharing ideas and resources to help manage your medications, regardless of what product or system you use. And for a more in-depth look at research showing the importance of medication management, please visit our Research page.

SOURCES: Report Brief, July 06 PREVENTING MEDICATION ERRORS -Institute of Medicine, 6/18/09 US Pharm. 2009;34(6):Epub, ISMP (Institute for Safe Medication Practices,) Dr. Jerry Gurwitz, Chief of Geriatric Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Center on Aging and Health, Johns Hopkins University, Women’s Health and Aging Study II, The World Health Organization (WHO,) U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services, “Medication Regimens: Causes of Noncompliance” report to Special Committee on Aging, U.S. Senate, Medco Health Solutions, PBM.

{ 0 comments }

← Previous Entries

Next Entries →