Include Your Medicine Cabinet
in Your Spring Cleaning Plans
A
s temperatures start to creep upward, our spring
to-do lists start to grow with painting, remodeling,
landscaping and gardening projects. But before you get
started on those, one quick, easy spring cleaning task
that you shouldn’t overlook is a thorough inventory (and
purge) of your family’s medicine cabinet.
The active ingredients in over-the-counter and
prescription medicines aren’t active forever!
Once the expiration date has been passed, many
pharmaceuticals start to degrade, becoming less
effective over time, and in some instances, toxic.
Some outdated medications, like aspirin, may take
on a telltale sour or rancid smell, but it’s always best
to use the expiration date — usually printed on the
prescription label, or the neck or base of the bottle —
as your guide. Make sure you’re storing medications in
a safe environment: away from heat, light and moisture,
which can accelerate the deterioration process, and
well out of reach of children or pets.
The best way to get rid of outdated or unused
medications is to take them to a medication drop-off
facility. Our Giant Eagle Pharmacists will be happy to
help you find the closest location in your area, or to
provide you with drug-specific instructions for safe,
secure home disposal. Do not flush pharmaceuticals
down the toilet without checking first, as this may
introduce harmful substances into your local watershed.
From start to finish, this is a project that should take
less than hour of your time, but could have a huge
effect on your family’s health and quality of life. Be
sure to remind friends and family — especially seniors
or those with medical conditions — to