Unwanted Medicines

Clearing out the bathroom cabinet? Bring your unwanted medicines to Crighton Pharmacy and we will get rid of them safely, at no cost to you. It takes a few seconds at the counter, and you do not need an appointment.

Why not just bin them?

Tablets thrown in household bins can be found by children, pets or anyone else. Medicines flushed down the toilet or sink can also pollute rivers and drinking water. So, the safest option is always to hand them back to a pharmacy.

Keeping a stockpile at home carries risks too. For example, old medicines may no longer work properly, and it is easy to mix up similar-looking packs.

What you can return

• Out-of-date or unused tablets and capsules
• Liquids, creams, inhalers and eye drops
• Medicines left over after a change of prescription or a bereavement

Please tell us if your bag includes needles, other sharps or controlled drugs, as these need separate handling. Needles should always be in a proper sharps bin.

What happens to unwanted medicines

We never reuse returned medicines. Instead, they go into sealed waste containers, and a licensed waste company collects and destroys them under our agreement with the local authority.

While you are here, it is a good chance to review your repeat prescription, so you only order what you need. We can also set up a weekly dosette box if keeping track of tablets is a struggle, or you can browse our other pharmacy services.