The responsible drug use guide

It's important to bring back certain unused/overdosed medications to the pharmacy so that they can be recycled properly.

Here is a list of the main medications you can bring back:

• Leftover ointments/creams/gels in their tubes
• Unused tablets, capsules and suppositories in their blister packs
• Leftover liquid medicines; syrups, nose drops and eye drops
• Unused patches
• Leftover sprays and aerosols

Without box and leaflet!

In fact, as mentioned above, medicines must be returned to the pharmacy without their box and leaflet.

But what do we do with them? Well, we sort them like any other everyday waste:

• Paper leaflets and cardboard boxes: recyparc or selective collection
• Empty, cleaned plastic bottles: blue PMC bag
• Syringes: syringe container, recyparc
• Empty blister packs: household waste
• Used patches: household waste. Ihey still contain a small amount of active substance, so do not leave them within the reach of children or pets.

By returning your medicines correctly, you comply with current regulations which prohibit the disposal of medicines in household waste or drains, thus ensuring safe and legal disposal of medicines.

[1] World Health Organization

[2] pharma.be

[3] Louvain Med 2024