It may seem like common sense, but you should never consume a pill unless you can identify it. Depending on what the unknown pill is, it could interact with other medications in your system. You also could experience unpleasant side effects that may be hazardous. This may occur if it’s a medication that’s unsafe for you to take, such as due to a preexisting condition.
For some individuals, certain medications are dangerous because of their existing medical conditions. In extreme cases, consuming an unknown pill may lead to significant health consequences or even death.
If you can’t identify it, bring it to your doctor or pharmacy to get a professional opinion. It’s critical to have a clear determination of what you’re dealing with. If you decide not to take the pill you can’t identify, don’t throw it away or flush it down the toilet. Medication needs to be properly disposed of so animals or children don’t accidentally consume it at a later date.
It may seem harmless to flush a pill down the toilet, but you must remember that flushed drugs can make their way into public water supplies. This includes groundwater and nearby lakes and streams. Water filtration systems may not remove all chemicals found in water, meaning your medication may eventually impact someone else. Medications on the FDA’s flush list are exceptions that can’t be safely stored at home or taken to a collector. Fentanyl patches are one example.
The FDA provides suggestions for the safe disposal of unused medications. These include:
Take-back programs offered by authorized DEA collectors
Disposing of a ground-up medication mixed into dirt or coffee grounds — it should be sealed in a container or plastic bag
Recycling facilities — for inhalers or empty pill bottles
If you follow the steps on the second bullet point, the container or sealed bag can be thrown in the trash. Once you’ve identified an unknown pill, be sure to follow the FDA guidelines for its proper use or safe disposal.