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There have been conflicting headlines lately about vitamin D, the sunshine vitamin, and whether it can ward off cancer. Dr. Joan Lappe, a scientist who did a placebo-controlled trial in postmenopausal women, found it could help. How much vitamin D do you need?
Discarding drugs is difficult. We are warned not to toss them away where children or animals might have access to them. Flushing them down the drain puts a strain on water treatment facilities. So what should you do with leftover pills?
The FDA is considering a new medication (rimonabant) that helps people lose weight, improve their blood fats and lower their blood sugar. But it also may trigger psychiatric side effects.
The lines are open for calls from listeners at 888-472-3366.
Guests: Joan Lappe, PhD, Professor of Nursing and of Medicine, Creighton University: first holder of The Dr. C.C. and Mabel L. Criss and Drs. Gilbert and Clinton Beirne Endowed Chair in Nursing at the Creighton University School of Nursing
Xavier Pi-Sunyer, MD, MPH, Professor of Medicine at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and Chief of Endocrinology at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital
Thanks for addressing the issue of disposing of old medications. I agree that the practice of disposing of medication in cat litter is not ideal.
However, the challenge of drug disposal is the myriad of US and state drug laws. Most Hazardous Waste sites cannot accept medications on a regular basis, due to rules about controlled substances (narcotics and other medications with abuse potential). Pharmacies have the same issue.
In many states, special drug disposal events are held; these events include pharmacists to sort medications and law enforcement officers to manage controlled substances.
Consumers should ask their local hazardous waste sites or solid waste authorities about the recommended disposal method in their area.
In Minnesota, the Pollution Control Agency recommends destroying the medication, then sealing it up well before placing it in the garbage. Their fact sheet is here: http://www.pca.state.mn.us/oea/hhw/pharmaceuticals.cfm
This is an emerging issue; consumers should continue to watch the news and look for collection events in their community.