Medicine Storage & Disposal

Medicines save lives, but they are also a leading cause of poisoning in homes, especially for young children and older adults. Pills left on a counter, in a purse or in an open cabinet can be swallowed by a curious child or taken by mistake. Unused medicine can also be misused or stolen. Storing and disposing of medicines safely protects everyone in the home.

• Families
• Caregivers
• Older Adults

Why medicine safety matters

• Children get into medicines easily. A small amount of an adult medicine, such as a heart or diabetes pill, an opioid or even iron supplements, can be deadly to a toddler.
• Poison control centers handle large numbers of calls about medicines, including accidental ingestions by young children, and medication errors in adults.
• Leftover prescription medicines, especially opioids and other controlled drugs, are sometimes stolen or shared, which can lead to misuse and overdose. See Overdose & Naloxone.
• Older adults may take many medicines, which raises the risk of mistakes and harmful interactions.
• Pets can be poisoned by human medicines, too.

Storing medicines safely

• Lock them up. Store all medicines, prescription and over-the-counter, vitamins and supplements, in a locked cabinet or box, out of children’s sight and reach. High is not enough, since children climb.
• Put them away every time. Don’t leave medicine on a counter, nightstand or in a purse or bag. Visitors’ bags, such as grandparents’ purses, often contain pills.
• Remember: child-resistant is not childproof. Child-resistant caps slow a child down but don’t stop every child. Always re-lock the cap until it clicks, and put the bottle away.
• Keep medicines in their original containers, with labels and instructions. Don’t put pills in unlabeled containers, plastic bags or food containers. Don’t mix different pills in one bottle, since you won’t know what they are.
• Store them properly: follow the label on temperature, light and moisture. The bathroom is usually too warm and damp. A cool, dry place is best. Refrigerate only if the label says so.
• Keep a list of all medicines, doses and doctors, and share it with caregivers and at medical visits.
• Be careful of look-alike products: candy-like gummies, chewables and colorful pills attract children. Teach them that medicine is not candy, and never call it candy.
• Watch for products people forget: patches, creams, eye drops, inhalers, supplements, vitamins with iron and e-cigarette liquids can all poison a child. See Household Chemicals.

Taking medicines safely

• Read and follow the label: take the right dose at the right time. Use the measuring device that comes with liquid medicine, not a kitchen spoon.
• Check twice before giving medicine to a child or a person who is ill, and don’t double up on products with the same ingredient, such as acetaminophen in several cold remedies.
• Don’t share prescriptions and don’t take someone else’s medicine.
• Use a pill organizer for older adults, with help from a caregiver or pharmacist, and keep it locked away from children.
• Ask a pharmacist or doctor about interactions, side effects, alcohol and driving. See Impaired Driving.
• Never give adult medicine to a child unless a doctor says so, and don’t take medicine in front of small children in a way that encourages them to copy.

Getting rid of unused medicines

Don’t keep old, unused or expired medicines. Dispose of them using these choices, from best to last resort:

1. Drug take-back programs. Many pharmacies, police stations and hospitals have permanent drop-off boxes, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) holds National Prescription Drug Take Back Days in April and October. This is the safest way. Find locations from the DEA or your local pharmacy.
2. Mail-back envelopes. Some pharmacies and programs provide prepaid envelopes for medicines.
3. FDA flush list. For a small number of especially dangerous medicines, including certain opioids, the FDA recommends flushing them down the toilet if a take-back option isn’t available right away, because the risk of harm from a child or pet finding them is greater than the environmental risk. Check the FDA’s current flush list. Don’t flush medicines that aren’t on it.
4. Household trash, as a last resort, if the product isn’t on the flush list and no take-back is available: (1) take the medicine out of its container, (2) mix it with an unappealing substance like dirt, used coffee grounds or cat litter (don’t crush tablets), (3) put the mixture in a sealable bag or container, and (4) throw it in the trash. (5) Scratch out personal information on the empty bottle label before you throw it out.

• Sharps and needles need special disposal in a sharps container. Don’t put loose needles in the trash. See Sharps on Jobsites.
• Take inhalers, aerosols and some products to household hazardous waste collection, as local rules direct.
• Check expiration dates a couple of times a year, and clean out the medicine cabinet.

If someone takes the wrong medicine

• Stay calm and act quickly. Take the medicine away. Don’t make the person vomit unless told to.
• Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 (U.S., free, 24 hours), or use the online tool at poison.org. Have the medicine bottle, the person’s age and weight and the time and amount taken ready.
• Call 911 if the person is unconscious, having trouble breathing, having seizures or very sleepy, or if you suspect an opioid overdose. If naloxone (Narcan) is available, use it. See Overdose & Naloxone and CPR & AED.
• Keep the Poison Control number on the refrigerator and in your phone.

Households with special concerns

• Children: lock all medicine, talk to visitors about theirs, and teach children that only a trusted adult gives medicine. See Childproofing.
• Teens and young adults: lock up prescription pain medicines, ADHD medicines and sleep aids, which can be misused. Talk with them about risks.
• Older adults: use pill organizers and a medicine list, and ask a pharmacist for a review. Make sure labels are readable and dosing is clear. See Fall Prevention at Home for medicines that raise fall risk.
• People in recovery or at risk of misuse: use a lockbox, count pills and dispose of leftovers promptly. See Substance Use & Recovery.
• Pets: keep human and pet medicines separate, and keep all out of pets’ reach. See Pets in Emergencies.
• Visiting and traveling: pack medicines in their original bottles, keep them with you and lock them up at your destination.

Medicine safety checklist

• All medicines, vitamins and supplements are in a locked cabinet or box, out of sight and reach
• I put medicine away after every use, and visitors’ bags are out of children’s reach
• Medicines stay in original labeled containers, stored as the label directs
• Unused and expired medicines go to a take-back program or are disposed of as the FDA advises
• Poison Control (1-800-222-1222) is saved in my phone and posted at home
• I have naloxone if anyone in the home uses opioids, and I know how to use it

Last updated: October 4, 2026