What can you do with cancer drugs you have been taken off of?

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Suefit
Suefit Member Posts: 36
edited August 2016 in Stage IV/Metastatic Breast Cancer ONLY

i have 75-500 mg left over xeloda pills that I have been taken off of. I hate throwing them away.

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  • Tina2
    Tina2 Member Posts: 2,943
    edited August 2016

    Unfortunately, you can't legally distribute them to anyone else. Perhaps a healthcare professional can. Ask your oncologist if she/he has any ideas. Or ask your pharmacy to dispose of them properly.

    Tina



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  • JFL
    JFL Member Posts: 1,947
    edited August 2016

    Good question! I am in the same boat. I feel bad throwing out expensive medications when there are so many out there that could use them. I have Ibrance and Aromasin, as well as Cymbalta for joint pain. I don't know of a solution but have wondered about this myself.

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  • sueopp
    sueopp Member Posts: 1,541
    edited August 2016

    Ladies- could I recommend that you turn such meds over to the charge nurse or equivalent at your infusion center/treatment center? It's my understanding that at my center "somehow" these essential meds get to folks who can't otherwise afford them (don't want to know). SU

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  • susan_02143
    susan_02143 Member Posts: 7,209
    edited August 2016

    In Boston, there used to be a "magic, yet hidden" drawer that contained drugs that could be slipped to patients without insurance and the ability to pay for these expensive drugs. However, in the past two years, that drawer has ceased to exist. There has been a huge crackdown and hospitals in this area are no longer willing to take the risk.

    It is illegal to pass on your drugs. Doesn't mean that with some creativity, you can't find a way.

    *susan*

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  • jobur
    jobur Member Posts: 726
    edited August 2016

    It is my understanding from my specialty pharmacy that drugs can be returned IF they have not been opened, so I assume you are talking about partially used meds?

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