Lost, stolen and returns of medicines

​​Information for consumers

​​​​​​Returns of medicines: What to do with medicines you no longer need 

Unwanted, unused or expired medicines can be returned in a Return of Unwanted Medicines (RUM) bin which can be found in most pharmacies.​

It is illegal for a pharmacist to re-dispense medicine that has already been dispensed to another patient.

A pharmacist may not be able to give you a refund for medicines that are unwanted or unused. The decision is for the pharmacist to make. If you think refusal for a refund is unreasonable, contact ​​NSW Fair Trading​ on 133 230. 

Lost or stolen medicines 

You do not need to notify Pharmaceutical Services if your medicine or prescription is suspected to be stolen. 

If you lose your prescription medicines or suspect they were stolen, you can: 

• Contact your doctor to inform them. The doctor can give you advice and may be able to issue a new prescription. 
• Contact your pharmacist. Depending on the medicine, your prescription history and the circumstances, your pharmacist may be able to get you a replacement or advise you to get a new prescription. 
• Contact the Health Direct hotline on 1800 022 222 for 24-hour health advice.
• You may contact the police at 131 444 if you are concerned about the amount of medicine stolen or have concerns about the incident that the police may be able to advise on. 

Who to contact for medicines advice​​

• ​If you have immediate concerns about a person's health and safety, call triple zero (000)​ or visit a hospital emergency department.
  
• The Poisons Information Centre​​​​​​​ provides the latest poisons information to the public. Advice is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at 131126 from anywhere in Australia.​​
  
• For non-life threatening concerns or general medicines advice, contact your regular health professional first.
  
• For 24-hour health advice you can call the Health Direct hotline at 1800 022 222. You can also visit the website at Health D​irect​​ ​​​to check your symptoms, find a health service, or find health information.​
• For further information about medicines advice and reporting medicine side effects, visit the ​​Australian Government's website​​​