Click2: Advice on Unwanted Medicines

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• Safe Use of Medicines
• Safe Storage of Medicines
• Safe Disposal of Unwanted Medicines

Safe Use of Medicines

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The following is general information on the safe use and the safe storage of your medicines. This includes medicines you have obtained on prescription and if you have bought them over the counter.

• The medicines that have been prescribed for you are to be taken or used only by you. They are specific for your medical condition. Do not share with family or friends even if their symptoms are similar to yours. Refer them to their GP
• Take the medicines as instructed by your doctor
• Regularly check the expiry of your medicines including any test strips, creams and liquids
• Do not throw away the leaflet as it contains useful information and may be valuable at a later stage
• Take medicines upright with a full glass of water unless otherwise specified
• Read the ‘Patient Information Leaflet’ and the label carefully before taking or using your medicines.
• If you experience any side effects or unusual symptoms, contact your doctor or your local pharmacist
• If you are unfamiliar with any of your medication and require more information contact us on 0161 628 7821 to speak to our helpful pharmacist.
• If you are taking any over the counter medicines please inform you doctor or the pharmacist before taking your medicines. This is because some medicines may clash with each other and may cause problems
• If you have difficulty taking your medicines contact your doctor who may recommend an alternative option.
• For any hospital appointments it may be worth checking whether you need to take your medicines with you.
• If you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant or are breastfeeding consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking any medication to check if it is safe.

Safe Storage of Medicines

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• Keep ALL medicines out of the SIGHT and OUT OF REACH of children
• Keep medicines out of the reach of pets
• Try to avoid keeping medicines in the kitchen or the bathroom as the humidity and the change in room temperature can affect the stability of your medicines
• Keep medicines in a cool and dry place, preferably out of direct sunlight
• Keep medicines in a locked cupboards especially if there are children present
• Follow the instructions on the label or ‘Patient Information Leaflet’ on storage requirements. Some products may need to be kept in the fridge
• Do not take medicines out of the original container and store them in other containers as this may confuse you and others of what it is. Original packaging is designed to protect the medicines.
• Make sure medicine bottles have a child resistant container

Safe Disposal of Unwanted Medicines

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Unwanted medicines whether they are out of date or you do not need to take them anymore (under the doctor’s advice) should never be thrown away or flushed down the toilet. The safest method is to return your medicines to the pharmacy who will arrange disposal in a safe way.

• Always check your medicines to see if they are still in date.
• Eye Drops - Once opened they will expire in 28 days. After 28 days there is a risk the drops may be contaminated.
• Antibiotic Liquids - Once made up they will expire in 7 to 14 days depending on the medicine. Ask your pharmacist for the expiry date
• Liquids to be taken by mouth - should not be used after three months from opening or if the Manufacturers recommend a shorter time length
• If any of your medicines taste, smell or look or feel unusual, check the expiry date. Even if the expiry date is fine return them to the pharmacy so the pharmacist can make sure they are safe for you to take
• Try to reduce wastage by only ordering what you need from your doctor
• If some of your medicines go out of date remove them immediately and contact the pharmacy for options on how to return your medicines.

Please see below the procedure for the pharmacy accepting waste medication:

In order to protect the safety of our staff, customers and the environment, when returning your unwanted medicines to this pharmacy, please take a moment to answer these quick questions.

You must be able to answer all the questions with a "Yes" in order for our staff to accept your unwanted medicines. Please tell our pharmacy staff if there are any questions to which you’ve answered "No".

1. Are you returning only medicines? Yes √
2. Are you sure there are no needles or other sharps in the bag/container? Yes √
3. Are you sure there is nothing else that may affect the health and safety of our staff? Yes √

See below for a list of those items we can and cannot accept.

Click2Pharmacy is a regulated mail order/internet pharmacy registered with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB). Click2Pharmacy does not warrant or represent that the content provided in this website is accurate or up to date or free of errors or viruses. All content on this website is for information purpose only. It is not designed to diagnose or treat any conditions or substitute or replace advice from any health care professionals or to be construed as legal or medical advice and should not be read or used as such. The information or material provided on this website should not be acted upon without professional advice first. It is vital to read all the information leaflets, labels and information present on the packaging accompanying your medication. You should always inform the pharmacist and doctor of any medication you are taking and if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Please consult your own healthcare provider if there are any issues with taking your medication. It is important you consult your doctor prior to taking any new product especially if you are under medical care. By using our website it is deemed that you have read and understood all our terms and conditions including this disclaimer.