Minus 10 Expired Medications

The cough started two days ago and got worse through the night. At two o'clock this morning I dragged the chair over to the medicine cabinet, climbed atop, and opened the cupboard. I pulled out the plastic storage bin I keep the medicines in. It was over flowing with prescription medications and over the counter medications. All mixed together like a giant medicinal stew.

Ever eat a stew and realize there are no potatoes? That's how I felt. Forty thousand medications and not one for a child's cough. Three unopened bottles of Nyquil. Infant Tylenol from when my 8-year old was a baby... it was painfully obvious I had no idea what medications I had on hand. Items were outdated and couldn't be used, and yet I was storing them.

What's in your medicine cabinet?

This week's challenge is to Minus 10 Expired Medications. Gather all the medications you have in the house. Now, check the expiration date; properly dispose of the medications that are out-of-date. Take a quick inventory of the items you have on hand. Do you have what you need?

Some families may want to keep Tums on hand, while other families don't have that sensitivity. I have a baby at home - I better make sure I have fever reducing medication in stock. Think of what you commonly ails you or other members in your family. Allergies? Coughs? Headaches? Muscle pain? Stocking up and organizing now will save you that 2am run to the 24-hour pharmacy (located twenty minutes away because there isn't one in your town).