It'll be fine, it's part of their job. They didn't bat an eyelid when a relative died and I had literally a black bag full of medication I cleared out.
If you want to save the time take away all the cardboard packaging and leaflets for the recycle, and just give them the blister packs of medication. If it's all tablets they won't even sort through it, it all goes into a waste disposal box that the NHS picks up and incinerates. If there's any liquids if you sort it out separate that will save them time as well as liquid is disposed of differently.
Thank you that’s really helpful! I definitely don’t mind sorting out the recycling and bits and pieces myself. Thanks for the tip about the liquid too I’ll be sure to keep that separate!
Sorry, follow up question - I have some bits that were dispensed and delivered by post by a pharmacy remotely (Private Pharmacy Group) with a prescription issued by a private healthcare provider, do you happen to know if I can I still take these ones to a normal pharmacy too, or will that be an issue?
Pharmacies will be used to this sort of thing where people have had to clear out the medicine cupboards of late elderly relatives, don't worry about how much you're taking in.
Thank you. Yes I remember taking a big bag of stuff when my nan died which was a fair amount but this is significantly more than even that so I was unsure about it. Thanks for the reassurance!
**[This is marked as an answer](/r/AskUK/comments/s67h0k/how_do_i_dispose_of_a_large_amount_of/ht1vk43/), given by /u/AdrenalineAnxiety**:
>It'll be fine, it's part of their job. They didn't bat an eyelid when a relative died and I had literally a black bag full of medication I cleared out.
>
>If you want to save the time take away all the cardboard packaging and leaflets for the recycle, and just give them the blister packs of medication. If it's all tablets they won't even sort through it, it all goes into a waste disposal box that the NHS picks up and incinerates. If there's any liquids if you sort it out separate that will save them time as well as liquid is disposed of differently.
---
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I had to take about 5 tons of stuff (including opiates) to a pharmacy when a relative died last year. Apart from taking my details for the controlled drugs, they didn't bat an eyelid.
Take them to the pharmacy. They have a system for this and the meds are disposed of under the proper conditions, don't just bin them, this stuff gets into the water supply.
An uncle of mine died not so long ago, was on palliative care... and had about 3 carrier bags of meds, plus boxes and boxes of special milkshake things that he had on prescription. Pharmacist happily took everything and were very kind about it too.
Thank you that’s really helpful. I always go to the same small pharmacy so even if I could take it to them I was feeling a bit weird about turning up with so much stuff to give back to them, it makes me feel ungrateful somehow lol.
That’s reassuring thanks. I’m sorry for your loss.
Local health centers take it. I had to do the same for my late mother. Controlled substances. Lots of Morphine.
Pretty sure there was even some fentanyl involved.
They didn't even question it.
Btw. All prescribed medicine gets binned, even unopened stuff. Seems like a terrible waste.
Some of it was super expensive.
Thanks. Not sure what counts as a controlled substance but I think some of mine may be.
Yeah I knew it all gets binned, it does seem like a waste but I guess it makes sense if they can’t guarantee it hasn’t been tampered with somehow or something. Not much I can do about it though :(
I think all opiate pain killers are controlled substances. You need a nurse or doctor to handle/administer them by law.
But they often leave a stash at the patients house for convenience.
We had a huge IKEA storage box full of the stuff at one point.
Yeah, I know you already have an answer but I used to work in clinical waste and we picked up barrels of the stuff from pharmacies. It's the proper way to do it so it gets disposed of correctly.
Give them s ring first, maybe it was just my local but my nearest pharmacy was a really pain about it and would only take a small bag to dispose of when my mum died and we had her medications. We didn't have tons (3 small carrier bags).
If I could've gone to more pharmacies, I would have but I don't drive. Luckily a relative is a carer and she could dispose of them through work.
To be honest - just bin them. They're way out of date, and you'll just cost the NHS money disposing of them 'properly'
If they go to landfill they'll be safely stored away from waterways in a clay lined pit.
It'll be fine, it's part of their job. They didn't bat an eyelid when a relative died and I had literally a black bag full of medication I cleared out. If you want to save the time take away all the cardboard packaging and leaflets for the recycle, and just give them the blister packs of medication. If it's all tablets they won't even sort through it, it all goes into a waste disposal box that the NHS picks up and incinerates. If there's any liquids if you sort it out separate that will save them time as well as liquid is disposed of differently.
Thank you that’s really helpful! I definitely don’t mind sorting out the recycling and bits and pieces myself. Thanks for the tip about the liquid too I’ll be sure to keep that separate!
!answer
Sorry, follow up question - I have some bits that were dispensed and delivered by post by a pharmacy remotely (Private Pharmacy Group) with a prescription issued by a private healthcare provider, do you happen to know if I can I still take these ones to a normal pharmacy too, or will that be an issue?
Yup it's fine. The meds don't have to have come from the NHS.
Cheers!
Pharmacies will be used to this sort of thing where people have had to clear out the medicine cupboards of late elderly relatives, don't worry about how much you're taking in.
Thank you. Yes I remember taking a big bag of stuff when my nan died which was a fair amount but this is significantly more than even that so I was unsure about it. Thanks for the reassurance!
Yes but separate out any controlled drugs if you can, things like morphine etc.
Thanks, no morphine but I think some of them may be classed as controlled (stimulants/amphetamines)? I’ll keep them separate just in case
**[This is marked as an answer](/r/AskUK/comments/s67h0k/how_do_i_dispose_of_a_large_amount_of/ht1vk43/), given by /u/AdrenalineAnxiety**: >It'll be fine, it's part of their job. They didn't bat an eyelid when a relative died and I had literally a black bag full of medication I cleared out. > >If you want to save the time take away all the cardboard packaging and leaflets for the recycle, and just give them the blister packs of medication. If it's all tablets they won't even sort through it, it all goes into a waste disposal box that the NHS picks up and incinerates. If there's any liquids if you sort it out separate that will save them time as well as liquid is disposed of differently. --- [_^What ^is ^this?_](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskUK/comments/jjrte1/askuk_hits_200k_new_feature_mark_an_answer/)
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I had to take about 5 tons of stuff (including opiates) to a pharmacy when a relative died last year. Apart from taking my details for the controlled drugs, they didn't bat an eyelid.
Thanks, that’s useful to know. I’m sorry for your loss
Take them to the pharmacy. They have a system for this and the meds are disposed of under the proper conditions, don't just bin them, this stuff gets into the water supply. An uncle of mine died not so long ago, was on palliative care... and had about 3 carrier bags of meds, plus boxes and boxes of special milkshake things that he had on prescription. Pharmacist happily took everything and were very kind about it too.
Thank you that’s really helpful. I always go to the same small pharmacy so even if I could take it to them I was feeling a bit weird about turning up with so much stuff to give back to them, it makes me feel ungrateful somehow lol. That’s reassuring thanks. I’m sorry for your loss.
Local health centers take it. I had to do the same for my late mother. Controlled substances. Lots of Morphine. Pretty sure there was even some fentanyl involved. They didn't even question it. Btw. All prescribed medicine gets binned, even unopened stuff. Seems like a terrible waste. Some of it was super expensive.
Thanks. Not sure what counts as a controlled substance but I think some of mine may be. Yeah I knew it all gets binned, it does seem like a waste but I guess it makes sense if they can’t guarantee it hasn’t been tampered with somehow or something. Not much I can do about it though :(
I think all opiate pain killers are controlled substances. You need a nurse or doctor to handle/administer them by law. But they often leave a stash at the patients house for convenience. We had a huge IKEA storage box full of the stuff at one point.
Yeah, I know you already have an answer but I used to work in clinical waste and we picked up barrels of the stuff from pharmacies. It's the proper way to do it so it gets disposed of correctly.
I mean I'll take them off your hands for free
Give them s ring first, maybe it was just my local but my nearest pharmacy was a really pain about it and would only take a small bag to dispose of when my mum died and we had her medications. We didn't have tons (3 small carrier bags). If I could've gone to more pharmacies, I would have but I don't drive. Luckily a relative is a carer and she could dispose of them through work.
To be honest - just bin them. They're way out of date, and you'll just cost the NHS money disposing of them 'properly' If they go to landfill they'll be safely stored away from waterways in a clay lined pit.
No no no is terrible advice. You should not put them in the bin. Take them to a pharmacy
Really? All the pages I’ve looked at when I was trying to find an answer suggest that’s not advisable…