Disposal of medicaments

Abstract

Composition to aid in the sequestration and/or disposal of unused human or animal pharmaceutical drug or medication. The composition comprises a disposal composition material that contains a gelling or massing agent and optionally other components, and can be in the form of pellets, beads, beadlets, granules, or the like. The disposal composition material can be incorporated into a sachet or other disposal container or its cap to prevent the use of the medicament or the removal/extraction of active agent(s) from a pharmaceutical dosage form intended for disposal, to an appreciable extent and/or rate. With in the disposal agent, or fill material there may also be additional ingredients to promote mixing, sequestration or destruction of the active agent. The disposal composition is contained in a sachet and dispensed with a medicament for use when the patient has finished with the medication and there is material left over for disposal. In addition, the sachet could be made available for use with non-prescription drugs and other materials.

1 - 45 . (canceled) 
     
     
         46 . A disposal composition comprising:
 a carrageenan, an alginate, a polyvinyl alcohol, a chitosan, or a combination thereof; and   a solvent-activated calcium cross-linking agent, a solvent-activated potassium cross-linking agent, or a combination thereof;   wherein the composition is capable of, when combined with a medicament and a hydrophilic solvent, forming a solidifying gel or solid to sequester the medicament within one hour after combination with the solvent, wherein the solvent activates the calcium cross-linking agent, potassium cross-linking agent, or a combination thereof in the disposal composition to cross-link at least one of the carrageenan the alginate, the polyvinyl alcohol, or the chitosan to form the solidifying gel or solid.   
     
     
         47 . The disposal composition of  claim 46 , wherein the solvent-activated calcium cross-linking agent or the solvent-activated potassium cross-linking agent comprises a carbonate, a chloride, a sulfate, a phosphate, a gluconate, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         48 . The disposal composition of  claim 46 , wherein the disposal composition further comprises a calcium sequestrant. 
     
     
         49 . The disposal composition of  claim 48 , wherein the calcium sequestrant comprises a phosphate, a citrate, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         50 . The disposal composition of  claim 46  further comprising a massing agent. 
     
     
         51 . The disposal composition of  claim 46  further comprising hydrochloric acid, boric acid, adipic acid, ammonium hydroxide, acetic acid, citric acid, lactic acid, ammonium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium bisulfate, sodium carbonate, sodium hydroxide, trolamine, potassium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, glutamate buffer, phosphate buffer, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         52 . The disposal composition of  claim 46  further comprising an inverse agonist of the medicament, an antagonist of the medicament, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         53 . The disposal composition of  claim 52 , wherein the medicament is an opioid. 
     
     
         54 . The disposal composition of  claim 46 , wherein the composition consists of components that are generally recognized as safe (GRAS). 
     
     
         55 . The disposal composition of  claim 46 , wherein the composition is in the form of a powder, a pellet, a bead, a beadlet, a granule, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         56 . The disposal composition of  claim 46 , wherein the solidifying gel or solid is formed within about ten minutes after mixing with the solvent. 
     
     
         57 . The disposal composition of  claim 46 , wherein the medicament dissolves upon contact with the solvent. 
     
     
         58 . The disposal composition of  claim 46 , wherein the solvent comprises a fruit juice, a vegetable juice, water, milk, alcohol, vinegar, bleach, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         59 . The disposal composition of  claim 46 , wherein the medicament comprises a prescription drug, an over-the-counter drug, a controlled substance, a vitamin, a nutritional supplement, a plant-derived product, a fermented supplement, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         60 . The disposal composition of  claim 46 , wherein the solvent activates the calcium cross-linking agent in the disposal composition to cross-link the carrageenan to form the solidifying gel or solid. 
     
     
         61 . A matrix comprising:
 a carrageenan, an alginate, a polyvinyl alcohol, a chitosan, or a combination thereof;   a solvent-activated calcium cross-linking agent, a solvent-activated potassium cross-linking agent, or a combination thereof,   a hydrophilic solvent; and   a medicament;   wherein the matrix is cross-linked such that the medicament is unavailable for extraction.   
     
     
         62 . The matrix of  claim 61 , wherein the solvent-activated calcium cross-linking agent or the solvent-activated potassium cross-linking agent comprises a carbonate, a chloride, a sulfate, a phosphate, a gluconate, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         63 . The matrix of  claim 61  further comprising hydrochloric acid, boric acid, adipic acid, ammonium hydroxide, acetic acid, citric acid, lactic acid, ammonium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium bisulfate, sodium carbonate, sodium hydroxide, trolamine, potassium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, glutamate buffer, phosphate buffer, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         64 . The matrix of  claim 61  further comprising an inverse agonist of the medicament, an antagonist of the medicament, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         65 . The matrix of  claim 65 , wherein the medicament is an opioid. 
     
     
         66 . The matrix of  claim 61 , wherein the solvent comprises a fruit juice, a vegetable juice, water, milk, alcohol, vinegar, bleach, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         67 . The matrix of  claim 61 , wherein the medicament comprises a prescription drug, an over-the-counter drug, a controlled substance, a vitamin, a nutritional supplement, a plant-derived product, a fermented supplement, or a combination thereof.