Disposal of Pens with sharps.

[Peanuts]

I have been on Bydureon and was told to just put it in the rubbish after as you can removed the needle and put in a Sharps bin. I have been put onto Trulicity as didn't like the large lumps that the other one left (sore/painful, itchy, felt and looked awful). So anyone else on it and what do you do with the used pen as there is a retractable needle in it - Lloyd's Pharmacy won't take them
. Have not been able to get a bin for it (they only issue 1 litre ones). I am having to put them in a container (a strong Vanish one) and then take it to my surgery so they can then put them into their container. Any advice please.
Oh take insulin and metformin so not sure what I am ;o)

 

[Austin Mini]

Im on a Lantus pen. When its empty I snap it in half and drop it in the bin. I use a sharps container for my everyday needles.
Retractable needle? Not a problem just get a pair of pliers and snap it off then drop into your sharps container. Hope this helps.Welcome to the club Peanuts.

 

[Rosiecarmel]

I stick my needles and Humalog cartridges (for reusable pens) in my sharps bin. My Levemir I just take off the needle and put the pen in my regular bin

 

[trophywench]

Ah, Austin - but does the needle retract after you've used it, so it's now in the body of the 'syringe' ? I don't know cos I've not seen on of them.

Pete had to have a fortnight or a month, can't recall - of daily self administered anti-coag jabs after his operation in single-use injectors - like extra fat, unwieldy plastic syringes. They actually supplied a largeish sharps bin with the boxes of jabbers, which were used to dispose of them (and I emptied my sharps bin into that one to fill up the spaces LOL) which we took back to the Urology dept at the next appointment.

I would ask whoever prescribes them, to supply a suitable sharps container - and not accept 'We can't'.

There are 1 litre sharps containers which are tall and wide (not unlike a very tall and very wide take away coffee cup - think thin yellow plastic bucket shaped LOL) with a ruddy great hole in the top which like the usual ones, the lid clips down on them when they are full. I asked my pharmacy to get me those - and they do.

 

[trophywench]

Yu should NOT put insulin cartridges in a sharps bin Rosie. Same as it's not for used strips or clinical waste either. Stick em in the normal rubbish bin.

 

[Rosiecarmel]

Oops! Didn't realise the "retractable needle" bit so my comment is pretty irrelevant!!

 

[Rosiecarmel]

Yu should NOT put insulin cartridges in a sharps bin Rosie. Same as it's not for used strips or clinical waste either. Stick em in the normal rubbish bin.

I only put them in because they're glass and my reusable pens are plastic. My nurse didn't say much about it - then again she told me to put all my needles in a milk bottle then chuck it when it's full...

 

[Robin]

Yu should NOT put insulin cartridges in a sharps bin Rosie. Same as it's not for used strips or clinical waste either. Stick em in the normal rubbish bin.

I only put them in because they're glass and my reusable pens are plastic. My nurse didn't say much about it - then again she told me to put all my needles in a milk bottle then chuck it when it's full...

I specifically asked my hopsital DSN what to do with the the used cartridge, and she told me to put it in the sharps bin, 'because there was a bit of insulin left in it' was her reasoning. Not that you could do anyone any harm with it, I don't expect, but I've obeyed instructions ever since.

 

[Ljc]

I don't put my cartridges in the sharps bin, when I've used as much as I can , say 1or 2 units left, before removing the needle I squirt the remainder into the sharps bin and put empty pen in the recycling.

 

[Robin]

I don't put my cartridges in the sharps bin, when I've used as much as I can , say 1or 2 units left, before removing the needle I squirt the remainder into the sharps bin and put empty pen in the recycling.

Oh, I can't do that with my pens, when the dial won't turn any more, because it's telling you it's empty, there's always a few units worth left in the cartridge with no means of getting it out.

 

[Rosiecarmel]

I don't put my cartridges in the sharps bin, when I've used as much as I can , say 1or 2 units left, before removing the needle I squirt the remainder into the sharps bin and put empty pen in the recycling.

Liquid shouldn't be put in a sharps bin. I'm not entirely sure if they're leak proof when permanently closed?

 

[grovesy]

Everytime this question comes up there is no universal system across the country.
I have recently read information on my local councils website as we are about to change to fortnightly collection of general waste. It clearly states the bin won't be emptied if they see it contains clinical waste.

 

[Ljc]

Liquid shouldn't be put in a sharps bin. I'm not entirely sure if they're leak proof when permanently closed?

I think mine will have good chance of evaporating off, my 5ltr bin will be a year old in April and nowhere near half full yet, but in future I'll squirt the remainder in the rubbish.

 

[Peanuts]

Thanks everyone - will go back to the surgery and to the Pharmacy and get what I need - oh they wanted to give me 5 x 1 litre containers (no need a 5litre container!! not five separate ones).

 

[trophywench]

My pharmacist can't supply bigger than 1 litre - that's precisely why when the hospital issue things that need a bigger bin - they also supply the sharps bins. At least our lot have joined up thinking with this.