Published August 1, 2025
Unused and expired prescription and over-the-counter medicines should be discarded as soon as possible. This will help prevent accidental poisoning or unsafe use. There are a number of safe options to use when medicines need to be discarded.
We recently learned about Rx Destroyer, a reusable drug disposal pouch. This product is used to get rid of medicines safely in the home. The Rx Destroyer pouch looks a lot like baby food pouches or snack packs (Figure 1). This could be confusing, especially at home, because a child might think the pouch holds food and try to eat it. The pouch does have a child-resistant cap to make it harder to open, but this may not stop all children.
Here’s what you can do: If you have unused or expired medicines, try to find a drug-takeback location in your area that will take them. If these options are not readily available, follow these guidelines:
If you decide to use the Rx Destroyer pouch, be sure to keep it up, away, and out of sight of children. Every time you add unwanted medicine to the pouch, be sure to replace the cap and store it up and away and out of sight, until it is needed again. Once the pouch is full or after one year, the pouch should be sealed and placed in the household trash. Make sure children or pets do not have access to the trash container.