Public Practice Regarding Disposal of Expired and Unused Medication

SANDRA L GRACIA VÁSQUEZ; YOLANDA A LETICIA GRACIA VÁSQUEZ; TERESA DE J. VIILLANUEVA-RAMIREZ; PATRICIA GONZALEZ-BARRANCO; EVANGELINA RAMÍREZ-LARA; IVONNE A. CAMACHO-MORA; SANTIAGO DANIEL PALMA; MARÍA LINA FORMICA

Latin American Journal of Pharmacy

Latin American Journal of Pharmacy

Año: 2019 vol. 38

0326-2383

harmaceutical products once they are expired are considered as environmental contaminants.The object of this study was to get insight into reasons why people dispose of home medications and type of unused/expired medications discarded and to determine which therapeutic groups generated the most waste. This is a two phase study: expired and unused medications were collected, quantities were recorded, medications were categorized, and also a questionnaire was applied to investigate reasons why people discard unused/expired medications. A total of 321 kg of medications was collected and 334 questionnaires were completed. Disposal practices for unwanted medications were to throw them in the trash,flush them down in the toilet or sink. Respondents gave reasons why they disposed unwanted medications. Anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and cardiovascular were the most common groups. In conclusion, health professionals should emphasize the importance of patients? adherence as well as prescriber