(Vanity Question) What do you do with your empty prescription bottles?

11/10/10 | Me

[RangerM]

I just finished a round of antibiotics, and now I have an empty prescription bottle.

I was about to throw it in the trash, but then realized this bottle has my name, address, doctors name, the medication, a prescription number, and several other pieces of information (along with various barcodes) that I'm not sure could be useful to an identity thief or not.

Am I being paranoid, or is there a legitimate concern here?

[RangerM]

Thanks for your thoughts.

Tried peeling label, but Walgreens must use superglue on their labels; because it’s damn hard to remove.

Didn’t even know if it’s possible to get anything meaningful, but in today’s world, who knows?

[Nervous Tick]

Scrape the label off with a single-edge-razor-blade-scraper.

You don’t need to get every last shred of it off, just deface the important parts.

Are you paranoid? Probably. So am I. I’d do the same thing you’re seeking to do.

As a very smart guy (Andy Grove of Intel Corp.) entitled his book, “Only The Paranoid Survive”.

[mlizzy]

Use Therapeutic Oregano Essential Oil next time ...

[Vision]

I create little drum sets for all the squirrels in my yard.

[ASOC]

Paranoid? Search “prescription bottle identity theft”

Some pharms are installing bottle shredders for old bottles, so many customers have been hit with identity theft..... worse are the folks hit with “medical identity theft” where someone charges their care to you!

[Domestic Church]

I’ve got one filled with sewing needles and another with spare shirt buttons.

[Vision]

Good place to put quarters in.....to use in a fist fight if needed.

Said by Hints from Heloise after her stint in Sing Sing.

[Domestic Church]

I’ve got one filled with sewing needles and another with spare shirt buttons.

[cripplecreek]

I use them to keep seeds in during the winter.

[RangerM]

I haven’t got a prescription for anything in years, so that was something I was not aware of. Thanks for the info. Definitely going to destroy the label.

[RangerM]

I haven’t got a prescription for anything in years, so that was something I was not aware of. Thanks for the info. Definitely going to destroy the label.

[ktscarlett66]

Drum sets...lmao!!! Love it.

Try Gunk, it’s great for sticky labels and such. As far as the bottles themselves, hubby uses them for fish hooks, rubber worms and such, I use them for needles, pins, beads, sequins, etc in my sewing box.

[stayathomemom]

I always take the labels off.
After you have done that, find the Wisconsin Synod Lutheran Church closest to you and find out if their Lutheran Women's Mission Society (LWMS) is collecting them for the Central Africa Medical Mission in Malawi, Africa. The ladies might really be grateful for your donation!

[JSteff]

Take off label and use them for batteries when you travel. Will avoid water, dust, accidental discharge, and keep the from rolling around in your brief case, laptop bag, suitcase, etc. Easy storage in desk drawer too.

[ASOC]

The value of reading FR posts - ya hit a gem once in a while....

[southland]

The city goes through our garbage so I usually put mine inpublic restrooms trash so they cant easily identify me...

[JSteff]

AA and AAA I mean.

[Calm_Cool_and_Elected]

Mark over the info with a black sharpie marker.

[ican'tbelieveit]

If you have a blow dryer, heat the label. This causes the glue to become soft and the label will pull off pretty easy. Works with almost any label, even on shipping boxes.

[fullchroma]

I wish I knew how to post pictures:

http://www.boxvox.net/2009/10/art-politics-of-prescription-pill-bottles.html