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National Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

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Know Your Medicines


What's Important to Know?

Taking your medicines as directed can greatly improve your health. If you have questions or concerns about how to take the medicines you are prescribed, ask your health care provider or pharmacist.

Tell your provider about all the medicines you take and how you take them. Include over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, herbals, supplements, and all medicine prescribed by providers in the community. Use a wallet card* to keep a list of your medicines.

Want to Know More?

If you want to learn more about your medicines, talk to your health care provider or pharmacist.

Safe Medicine Disposal

Unused or expired medicines can lead to harm such as accidental poisoning, overdose, and abuse. It’s important to dispose of unwanted medicine safely.

VA facilities across the country offer ways to safely dispose of unused or expired medicines, including controlled substances. Your local VA may have free envelopes to mail unwanted medicine back. It may also have a disposal bin on-site.

Unwanted medicines can also be dropped off at some community pharmacies and law enforcement agencies. For example, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) sponsors “National Prescription Drug Take Back Days*” every April and October.

This is a great time to gather all unwanted medicines and dispose of them safely. You can use their Collection Site Locator Tool* to find a location near you.

If you must dispose of unwanted medicine at home, follow these instructions*.

VA Resources

  • My HealtheVet - Refill VA prescriptions, track VA prescriptions, view a medication list, and enter medications and supplements.
  • Veterans Health Library - Look up medicines you would like to know more about.
  • Ask a Pharmacist App - Access trusted information about VA pharmacies, prescription labels, and medications.
  • VA Formulary Advisor - Search for VA National formulary (drug) information.

This content was developed in partnership with VA Pharmacy Benefits Management (PBM). For more information about how PBM helps Veterans archive their best health through safe and effective use of medication, visit their website.

Links marked with * direct to non-VA.gov websites.

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