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Pitch it all? Cleaning medicine cabinet finally!
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Posted by chemocurl (My Page) on Tue, Jul 24, 07 at 17:13
| I've been meaning to clean it for quite a while... years I guess.
Listed below is all the stuff that has expired dates on it...or will expire this month.
Some of the things I won't even bother going ahead and replacing, but living out in the boonies, I 'do' like to have needed things on hand especially if one is ailing or injured.
I probably wouldn't replace the back pain meds, (got back fixed a few years back) but was thinking of keeping the HEET anyway. I'll bet it would still be 'hot'.
Medicine cab-outdated stuff
09-04---Analgesic Gel (Ice Cold)—(was for back pain)
07-00—Anti-Itch Hydrocortisone cream
01-01—Arthritis Hot Pain Relief Creme—(was for back pain)
02-03—Aspercreme
??-??—Banalog Arthritic Pain Reliever-probably ‘out’–(was for back pain)
03-01—Betadine solution-Kills germs promptly
02-00—Ear drops
07-07---Calamine lotion
??-??—HEET- Pain relieving liniment-probably ‘out’—(was for back pain)
07-05---Loratadine Antihistamine
03-04---Magnesium Citrate—just in case...lol
02-01—Mineral Oil
07-04—Neosporin
03-02—Night Time liquid cold medicine (generic Niquil)
08-03—Perform cool pain relieving gel
07-07—Spray Bandage-Curad
12-05—Theraflu-Night Time
09-05---Theraflu-non drowsy
11-06—Tums
What do y'all think? Pitch it all, or should some things still be ok maybe even forever?
Sue |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Pitch it all? Cleaning medicine cabinet finally!
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| Pitch it all. I believe anything with an expiration date on it has that date because after that date something about it changes or breaks down. Some medication can become stronger with age, and some have different medications in the same pill. If there is something that you really don't want to throw out, call your local pharmacy. They will be able to tell you for sure if what you have changes or not. For example I never knew that Calamine lotion or mineral oil expired. And you have a couple of things that don't have an expiration date listed, so they may not break down or change over time. I would definitely check with a pharmacist though, cause you really don't want to take something for one thing and end up with a totally different problem caused by outdated medication. Mil |
RE: Pitch it all? Cleaning medicine cabinet finally!
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| Thanks. I really thought any 'oral' meds should be disposed of....along with the ear drops...just too risky. I know whatever I restock, will be in small quantities/sizes...since they are to have 'just in case' they are needed, and chances are they will expire b4 being used up. I often find it a little odd that so many folks don't stock stuff for when they are needed....sometimes not even having a bandaid for a booboo. Sue |
RE: Pitch it all? Cleaning medicine cabinet finally!
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| I think you have pitch it off without putting any delays because if you don't do that it can harm anybody afterall this is a medical stuff. So, just try to pitch it off. |
RE: Pitch it all? Cleaning medicine cabinet finally!
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| You talked me into it. It will be a good feeling to have it all gone, and a few of the important things replaced. I'm trying to make a clean sweep through the whole house, so it makes the most sense to get them gone. |
RE: Pitch it all? Cleaning medicine cabinet finally!
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| There are ways to save money with medical products. A lot of generic brand medical products are exactly the same as expensive branded ones, so where possible I buy the cheaper ones. I also try to buy versatile items, for example a general antiseptic skin healing cream is good for a number of skin problems, such as cuts, rashes, burns, etc. You're also more likely to have something useful around the house if you buy general purpose stuff, and more likely to use the packet up before it goes out of date as well. Perhaps you could tell your pharmacist that you're going to restock your medicine cabinet and want to know what products are the most versatile and long lasting. |
RE: Pitch it all? Cleaning medicine cabinet finally!
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| I think you definitely need to replenish the "just in case" items that relate to first aid. Bandages, gauze, neosporin or equivalent. And you need to keep some sort of pain reliever/analgesic on hand. Most of the other items you mentioned you can purchase as needed/if needed. |
RE: Pitch it all? Cleaning medicine cabinet finally!
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| I think I'd maybe keep the Calomine--that should be good for a few months yet. And move the mineral oil to the kitchen. It doesn't go rancid, which is why it's recommended for oiling wood (butcher blocks, wooden spoons, etc)--it should still be fine and you should be able to use it to condition any wood that needs it. Be very careful how you dispose of the meds you're tossing. Never flush down the toilet so that they get into the ground water supply--they can end up in the water supply. And you'll want to make sure that however you toss them, there's NO CHANCE that children or animals (or drug addicts--the kind who will take anything as long as it looks like a pill) can get to them. As a matter of fact, it might be a good idea to call your pharmacist or dr. to find out how best to dispose of that quantity of used meds |
RE: Pitch it all? Cleaning medicine cabinet finally!
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| I think it's great to throw out old stuff. In my mom's medicine closet, I found an old bottle of Mercurochrome from the 1960s. I remember that stuff-it burned like heck! Also found a bottle of vitamins she took when she was pregnant with my brother, who is now age 49,LOL. Make sure you replenish your first aid supplies. |
RE: Pitch it all? Cleaning medicine cabinet finally!
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| I have a chronic illness and have to self-inject medication once a week. I got so squeamish about needles, I couldn't give myself the shots antmore. So I go to my doctor's office and the nurse gives me my shot. I had a supply of hypodermic syringes. Rather than throw them in the trash, I brought them to the doctor's office to either use them or dispose of properly. Since they were still wrappedin sterile paper, she decided they were safe and chose to use them. When my MIL died, she had a cabinet full of prescriptions. We brought them all to a doctor to dispose of them. They definitely did not give them out to patients. |
RE: Pitch it all? Cleaning medicine cabinet finally!
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| I also pitch it all the medcines which are expired..we can also loose our life..so y take the risk ..we should check the date while buy any eatable product..:) |
RE: Pitch it all? Cleaning medicine cabinet finally!
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| Prescription drugs should be returned to the pharmacy. Ask the pharmacist which other ones you should take there. ole joyful |
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