Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained

I’m sure most of us have thought of this question, and had need of its answer. And, if not, you still need to be aware of the answer.

Our water systems, foods, and the air we breathe are becoming overly polluted with residual discarded medications, and it’s a very unhealthy situation. The FDA provides some rules on disposing of medications.

From the FDA:

Disposal by Flushing of Certain Unused Medicines: What You Should Know

Medicines play an important role in treating certain conditions and diseases, but they must be taken with care. Unused portions of these medicines must be disposed of properly to avoid harm. Almost all medicines can be thrown away in the household trash after mixing them with some unpalatable substance (e.g., coffee grounds) and sealing them in a container.

However, certain medicines may be especially harmful and, in some cases, fatal in a single dose if they are used by someone other than the person the medicine was prescribed for. For this reason, a few medicines have special disposal directions that indicate they should be flushed down the sink or toilet after the medicine is no longer needed. If you dispose of these medicines down the sink or toilet, they cannot be accidently used by children, pets, or anybody else.

You may have also received disposal directions for these medicines when you picked up your prescription. If your medicine is on this list, and you did not receive information on disposal with your prescription, you can find directions on how to dispose of the medicines at DailyMed. After you search on the drug name, the disposal information for these medicines can be found in one of the following sections of the prescribing information:

• Information for Patients and Caregivers
• Patient Information
• Patient Counseling Information
• Safety and Handling Instructions
• Medication Guide

It is important to note that disposal by flushing is not recommended for the vast majority of medicines. Unused or expired medicines that do not have flushing directions in the label can be disposed of safely in the household trash by:

1. Mixing them with something that will hide the medicine or make it unappealing, such as kitty litter or used coffee grounds.

2. Placing the mixture in a container such as a sealed plastic bag.

3. Throwing the container in your household trash.
Below is some additional information about the disposal of medicine that is no longer needed. If you have additional questions about disposing of your medicine, please contact us at 1-888-INFO-FDA (1-888-463-6332).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You can check out the entire article at:
http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/BuyingUsingMedicineSafely/EnsuringSafeUseofMedicine/SafeDisposalofMedicines/ucm186187.htm#MEDICINES

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Until next time,

Karen Cioffi
Author, Ghostwriter, Freelance Writer, Reviewer,
Acquisitions Editor Intern for 4RV Publishing

http://karencioffi.com
http://dkvwriting4u.com
http://twitter.com/KarenCV

I have a great article from Bottom Line’s Daily Health News that is pertinent to the topics on this site.

Secondhand Smoke — Can It Blow Away Your Sanity?

There’s no question about the physical hazards of smoking — both for smokers and for those around them who breathe in the secondhand smoke — but did you know that secondhand smoke actually may threaten your sanity as well? A compelling research study in a recent issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry reported that secondhand smoke not only causes physical harm but also increases the likelihood of psychological distress and psychiatric disorders severe enough to require hospitalization!

SMOKING AND STATE OF MIND

In the Scottish Health Survey, health and lifestyle information was collected at random from more than 8,000 adults, none of whom had any history of mental health problems. Participants completed questionnaires about their physical and mental health — assessing smoking habits, sleep patterns and measures of happiness, depression and anxiety. A saliva sample also was taken from each participant at the start of the study and tested for levels of cotinine, a chemical metabolite produced during nicotine breakdown in the body that is considered a marker of tobacco exposure. Then, six years later, mental health was assessed once again and — at the risk of sounding dramatic — the differences were breathtaking. Here’s what researchers found:
• Self-reported nonsmokers with high levels of cotinine in their bodies had nearly 50% greater incidence of psychological distress (depression or anxiety) than nonsmokers with no cotinine in their systems.
• This same group was nearly three times more likely to have been hospitalized for psychiatric problems, including depression, schizophrenia and delirium, than those who had minimal or no measurable cotinine in their bodies.
• People who smoked were about four times more likely to have been hospitalized for a psychiatric problem than people with no cotinine in their systems — in other words, the smokers were only somewhat more likely to have suffered psychological issues than people who had been exposed to secondhand smoke.

HOW WORRIED SHOULD I BE?

This study establishes a link, not causation, emphasized Mark Hamer, PhD, an epidemiologist at University College London and one of the study authors, but he also said that he believes it offers yet more support showing the strong need for public policies that help to curb smoking so innocent people won’t be victimized by exposure to secondhand smoke. Dr. Hamer told me that in spite of widespread antismoking measures, a shocking 60% of children ages three to 11 in the US have measurable levels of cotinine, indicating that they are regularly exposed to secondhand smoke. Other studies have even shown evidence that there is significant danger from exposure to “third-hand smoke” — what’s left in the air and on floors and furniture after a cigarette is extinguished.

The advice is self-evident but bears repeating. Do anything and everything you can to avoid being around cigarette smokers and in places where they congregate. To reduce the likelihood that you will suffer ill effects — physical or mental — try to…
• Make your home and your car nonsmoking zones.
• Choose smoke-free restaurants and hotel rooms.
• Advocate for elderly family, children, teens and friends to protect them from exposure to smoke in their environments.
In the meantime, based on this study, I think it would be crazy not to protest when someone lights up nearby!

Source(s):

Mark Hamer, PhD, epidemiologist, department of epidemiology and public health, University College London. Dr. Hamer’s research focuses on aging, cardiovascular health, mental health and population health.

Reprinted with the permission of:
Bottom Line Publications/HealthyWoman
Boardroom Inc.
281 Tresser Blvd., 8th Floor
Stamford, CT 06901
www.BottomLineSecrets.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Until next time,

Karen Cioffi,
Ghostwriter and Freelance Writer
Acquisitions Editor Intern

http://karencioffi.com