Do you flush your patch down the toilet after changing?

[Sarajmt]

While I was on the patch, I was advised to flush my used patches down the toilet by not only my doctor but also the manufacturer.  I did this for a while.  Then my local newspaper published a report about pain medications in the water supply.  So I started wrapping them in something and walking them to the outside trash can.

So what do you do with your patches?

[Jaybay]

I ended up with a backed up sewer pipe after a few weeks of flushing patches.  The plumbers pulled out a big nasty wad of patches and couldn't figure out what it was.  LOL!  I pleaded ignorance because strangers don't need to know what medications I have in the house.  After that lovely experience, I wad up the used patch in a tissue and put it in the trash.  We also have trash cans with self-closing lids so the dogs don't get into them.  The plumber situation was bad enough; I can't imagine explaining an overdosed dog to my vet.  LOL!

[jamlws]

I don't agree with flushing it down the toliet, your not suppose to put any kids of med into the toliet cause it does get into the water system so I would find a better way of getting rid of them.
Jamie

[namnam46]

When I first went on the Patch I followed the instructions of the Manufacturer and Flushed in down the toilet. However, it always bothered me that it would cause the system to back up so I quit that. Now, I fold the Medicine sides in half against each other and I put it back inside the plastic that it comes in and place that back inside the original packaging and fold that over onto itself and then throw it into the trash. I push it down to the BOTTOM of the trash can and make sure that it is covered up.

I hope that you were able to follow all of that.  LOL  It's kind of complicated but with an Autistic Grandchild in the house I'm EXTREMELY careful with my Patches. She sees me put them on and I've explained EVERYTHING about them to her and how dangerous it would be for her to "wear Nam's Patch", and she has always left them alone. HOWEVER, I would NEVER assume that she wouldn't touch them . You just can't EVER think like that where the Patches are concerned. We also, have 2 inquisitive Puppies so I'm careful WHICH trash can I put them in also.

You can NEVER be too careful with you Dangerous Meds!!!

Sara, that was an EXCELLENT post. It helps remind EVERYONE that they should be careful with ALL of their meds!!!

Be Careful...:)  Sherry

[Mollyrae]

That's the recommendation by the manufacturer but I totally dis-agree. When doing this, you are polluting the water supply with drugs that sometimes cannot be cleaned out by our treatment plants. In my opinion, it's safer to dispose of them through the trash.

Chow,
Mollyrae

[geminigirl1963]

When I was using the patch, at first I did flush them according to the package instructions, however, one time when I did that, I was at a friend's house - he has a septic system, not public sewer - and I ended up causing a MAJOR overflow.  Now it probably wasn't entirely my fault from flushing the patch, but it happened WHEN I flushed, so I felt absolutely HORRIBLE about it and when my friend finished cleaning up the mess and got the toilet unclogged, one of the things that was removed was that patch.

After that horrifying, embarrassing experience, I began taking my patch off, folding it in half so the the medication side was on the inside, wrapping it in several layers of toilet paper and discarding in the trash.

I does make sense that really these should not be flushed, as there is STILL medication in them after we've removed them according to our prescripton instructions - and since heat is what makes the medication be released, heat is naturally generated in the septic/sewer systems as bacteria is broken down, so it quite obviously could cause some of that "leftover" medication to be released into the water supply.

I wonder if someone will ever invent a disposal "bag" of sorts (similar to the little bags that you get with some femine products for disposal, but with a MUCH stronger material and MUCH better sealing system) - maybe something made of a material such as tyvek - again with a very strong sealing measure.  Anyway - I'm rambling, but you get my drift - there really should be a SAFE, EFFECTIVE way made to be able to dispose of our used patches.  Hmmmm - maybe I'll talk to that same friend I mentioned above about it - he used to work with the patent office - maybe he can either tell me if such a thing exists or perhaps even help ME to be the inventor!!  Gee, wouldn't THAT be nice!!