Medication

Managing unused and leftover medications

According to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 9.7 million people misused prescription pain relievers, 4.9 million people misused prescription stimulants, and 5.9 million people misused prescription tranquilizers or sedatives in 2019. The survey also showed that a majority of misused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet. (1)

To help address this issue, drug take back programs are available at many locations.

What is a medication take back program (Drug take back program)?

Medicine take-back programs are the only secure and environmentally sound way to dispose of leftover and expired medicines (2).

  • Ongoing drop-off programs are usually at a pharmacy or a law enforcement office.
  • Take-back programs use secure equipment and procedures to prevent theft or diversion.
  • Collected medicines are destroyed in a way that protects our environment.
  • Community demand for medicine take-back programs is high, but most communities do not have a program.

Take-back programs can be (2)

  • Ongoing drop-off programs.
  • One-day collection events.
  • Mail-back programs.
  • Combinations of these approaches.

US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) will hold their National Prescription Drug Take Back (NTBI 21) on Saturday, October 23, 2021 – 10AM to 2PM (3)

  • The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications. (3)

To find a site near you, and for year round drop off locations, go here.

For research on drug take back programs go here.

By R. Ryan S Patel DO, FAPA OSU-CCS Psychiatrist

 Disclaimer: This article is intended to be informative only. It is advised that you check with your own physician/mental health provider before implementing any changes. With this article, the author is not rendering medical advice, nor diagnosing, prescribing, or treating any condition, or injury; and therefore claims no responsibility to any person or entity for any liability, loss, or injury caused directly or indirectly as a result of the use, application, or interpretation of the material presented.

 References:

  1. https://takebackday.dea.gov/
  2. https://www.takebackyourmeds.org/why/how-medicine-take-back-works/
  3. https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/

Study: Are you paying too much for generic medications?

By R. Ryan S Patel DO, FAPA OSU-CCS Psychiatrist

Medications for mental health can be helpful for some people when combined with healthy lifestyle habits, healthy psychological skills, and support through counseling.

As of 2013, about 1 in 6 individuals in the United States reported taking prescription medications for mental health (1).

A recent study looked at the cost of medications across various pharmacies (2).

What was the study?

  • The study authors (2) looked at the cost of 3 commonly prescribed medications at 175  pharmacies across 55 zip codes in a 2 state region.
  • 153 of 175 pharmacies were chain pharmacies.
  • The authors also looked at dose, supply, pharmacy type and zip code, and zip code median annual income.

What were the results? (2)

  • Only 1 chain pharmacy had consistent pricing across all its stores in the study region (2).
  • They found that even within the same chain, medication prices could vary based on the pharmacy.
  • The main driver of cost was the retail pharmacy—and not the variables of drug dose, duration of therapy, pharmacy ownership, pharmacy location, or median income (2).
  • For one of the medication combinations, study authors found almost a 40 fold difference in price (2), and a 33 fold difference for another.
  • Counter intuitively, the study authors also found the oldest generic medication to be most expensive (2).

What are some caveats?

  • This was a small study looking at 3 generic medications in a 2 state area in the Midwest.
  • So the results may not be applicable to all medications, as well as all regions.
  • Further study is needed.

How can I ensure that I am NOT over-paying for my prescription medications?

  • Many pharmacies have stopped discount or $4 pricing.
  • Check with your insurance about a preferred pharmacy.
  • Call pharmacies in your area or download an app that can compare prescription drug prices in your area.
  • Talk to your prescriber about prescription discount cards, vouchers, or a 90 day supply. These may be available for brand name medications, sometimes generic ones too.
  • Look into Charitable pharmacies in your area.  For example, CD4AP runs a Charitable Pharmacy on the South Side of Columbus Ohio, which offers free or reduced fee prescriptions for those in need:https://charitablepharmacy.org/SitePages/home.aspx

If you are having difficulty filling or affording your prescription, it may be best to talk to your prescriber without delay.

Disclaimer: This article is intended to be informative only. It is advised that you check with your own physician/mental health provider before implementing any changes. With this article, the author is not rendering medical advice, nor diagnosing, prescribing, or treating any condition, or injury; and therefore claims no responsibility to any person or entity for any liability, loss, or injury caused directly or indirectly as a result of the use, application, or interpretation of the material presented.

References:

  1.  Moore  TJ, Mattison  DR.  Adult utilization of psychiatric drugs and difference by sex, age, and race  [published online December 12, 2017].  JAMA Intern Med. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2016.7507
  2. Hauptman PJ, Goff ZD, Vidic A, et. al. Variability in Retail Pricing of Generic Drugs for Heart Failure.  JAMA Internal Medicine. 2017;177(1):126-128.