What can I do with unused medicine?

[Phentex]

My dog was very sick and the vet put him on 3 medications. One was a cyclosporin liquid which he took with no problems at first. When I had to buy a refill, a compound pharmacy made the stuff and it was nasty. So nasty the dog would not take it. Then the vets found a place that sold gel caps which I could hide in treats. Almost immediately, the dog became worse and they took him off the cyclosporin. And then he got better!

Now I am stuck with all of these gel caps. A full package plus a few loose which cost $350.00 AND of course the pharamacy won't take it back, even though it's all sealed/unopened. It's not so much the money I care about, it's the waste. I searched for medicine donation programs and haven't had any luck.

Do you have any ideas?

Thanks.

[ehrnst]

1. Check with rescues in your area

The rescue that I work with keeps a stock of donated meds that we give to fosters caring for dogs that have been prescribed those medications. We often get maintenance meds like thyroid tabs, donated from people who's pets have died. It really helps to save us money.

If you're in the Washington DC/Baltimore area, get in touch with me, and I'll direct you to some rescues in our area.

[Phentex]

2. Thank you. I'm in Atlanta...

there must be groups like the one you described. Or I could mail this to one of your groups if you want to pm your info. This does not expire until 8/09.

[MiniMe]

3. I agree with the previous poster, check the rescues in your area

I think that the shelter can't take them, and I know that they will only take unopened bags of dog food. But a lot of the rescues can really use those kind of things.

[eridani]

4. Some regular pharmacies will take back unused meds

Perhaps they souldn't turn down veterinary meds--it's worth checking out.

[MiniMe]

5. They may take them back, and some may even issue a refund, BUT

those drugs will most likely be disposed of. A pharmacy can't guarantee the quality of any meds that are brought back. Once it is out of their pharmacy, I don't think they can be resold by them. Vets are the same way. I think that either giving the meds to an individual or a rescue is the best answer. Some people can't afford meds for their pets, and rescues are always operating on a shoestring budget.

The rescue I volunteer for gets most of their heartworm meds that way. If you end up having to get a box of heartworm meds for a dog because they don't have any, you save the unused pills for the next foster, it doesn't go with the dog. We don't usually keep the dogs long enough to take 6 months of pills on one dog, and getting a box for every dog that comes in would be outrageously expensive. That of course applies to things like heartworm pills or drugs that we have for a dog that passed away. Any medication that a dog is on for a problem goes with the dog when it gets adopted. Probably the best example of that is ear infections. We get a lot of dogs that come in with ear infections and are being treated. Those meds always go with the dog.