A study on awareness and disposal practices of unused and expired medicines by consumers

Authors

  • Bhavika D. Department of Pharmacology, Government Medical College, Nalgonda, Telangana, India
  • Ayesha Vaseem Department of Pharmacology, Government Medical College, Nalgonda, Telangana, India
  • Sunil Pal Singh C. Department of Community Medicine, Kamineni Academy of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Hyderabad, Telangana, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2319-2003.ijbcp20201176

Keywords:

Awareness, Disposal of medicines, Hazards of improper disposal, Leftover medicines, Unused medicines

Abstract

Background: Hazards to the environment due to improper drug disposal practices is an issue of concern. The prescription drugs, disposed into trash /sewage, consequently enter into surface waters and contaminate even drinking water. In view of the potential hazards posed due to improper storage and disposal of medicines, evaluation of the awareness of the consumers and educating them about proper disposal methods is required. The aim of present study was to evaluate the awareness and practice of drug disposal among the population.

Methods: A cross sectional, observational study was conducted at Rural Health Centre (RHTC) of Kamineni Academy of Medical Sciences and Research Centre with the patients visiting the RHTC as the study subjects. A predesigned questionnaire was used to evaluate the awareness and disposal practices of unused and expired medicines by the respondents.

Results: On analysis it was observed that 80 (57%) of the respondents procure medicines from health care centre. A total of 97 (69%) respondents possess unused/leftover medicines at home, 54 (39%) of the respondents mentioned the reason to be due to self discontinuation. Among the class of drugs left unused antibiotics constituted 13%, antipyretics 6%, analgesics 6%. 49% of the respondents dispose unused medicines in domestic trash, 24% flush down toilet/sink. A majority of 121 (86%) opined that awareness must be made created.

Conclusions: In present study it was observed that many of the respondents possessed leftover medicines and were unaware of the hazards of improper disposal of medicines. Thus, there is a need for proper educational and regulatory interventions.

Author Biography

Ayesha Vaseem, Department of Pharmacology, Government Medical College, Nalgonda, Telangana, India

Department of Pharmacology, Assistant Professor

References

The World Medicines Situation: Chapter 8. Rational use of medicines. Available at: apps.who.int/ medicinedocs/en/d/Js6160e/10.html. Accessed 5 April 2019.

Silva LJG, Lino CM, Meisel L, Barcelo D, Pena A. Ecopharmacovigilance. In: Barcelo D, ed. The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry. Germany: Springer-Verlag Berlin and Heidelberg GmbH & Co. KG; 2012:213-242.

Atkinson R. Pharmaceuticals in the Environment. Distribution of Pharmaceutical Residues in the environment. In: Hester RE, Harrison RM, eds. Issues in Environmental Science and Technology; 2016;41:36.

Taggart MA, Senacha KR, Green RE, Jhala YV, Raghavan B, Rahmani AR, et al. Diclofenac residues in carcasses of domestic ungulates available to vultures in India. Environ Int. 2007;33(6):759-65.

Säfholm M, Ribbenstedt A, Fick J, Berg C. Risks of hormonally active pharmaceuticals to amphibians: a growing concern regarding progestagens. Philos Transact Royal Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2014;369(1656):20130577.

Brodin T, Piovano S, Fick J, Klaminder J, Heynen M, Jonsson M. Ecological effects of pharmaceuticals in aquatic systems- impacts through behavioural alterations. Philos Transact Royal Soc B Biol Sci. 2014;369(1656):20130580.

Ding C, He J. Effect of antibiotics in the environment on microbial populations. Applied Microbiol Biotech. 2010;87(3):925-41.

Medhi B, Sewal RK. Ecopharmacovigilance: An issue urgently to be addressed. Indian J Pharmacol. 2012;44(5):547-9.

Daughton CG, Ruhoy IS. The afterlife of drugs and the role of pharmecovigilance. Drug Safety. 2008;31(12):1069-82.

Sonowal S, Desai C, Kapadia JD, Desai MK. A survey of knowledge, attitude, and practice of consumers at a tertiary care hospital regarding the disposal of unused medicines. J Basic Clin Phar. 2016;8(1):4-7.

AlAzmi A, AlHamdan H, Abualezz R, Bahadig F, Abonofal N, Osman M. Patients’ knowledge and attitude toward the disposal of medications. J Pharm. 2017;2017:1-9.

Bashaar M, Thawani V, Hassali MA, Saleem F. Disposal practices of unused and expired pharmaceuticals among general public in Kabul. BMC Public Health. 2017;17(1):45.

Lim MT. Disposal Practices of Unused and Unwanted Medications among Patients in a Tertiary Hospital. Educa Med J. 2016;8(3):49-59.

Patil S, Patil SK. Critical eye towards storage and disposal of prescribed medicine. Global J Med Public Health. 2013;2(6):1-5.

National Formulary of India: Disposal of unused/expired pharmaceutical products (Appendix 4). 4th Edition. Indian Pharmacopoeia commission; 2011.

Chander V, Sharma B, Negi V, Aswal RS, Singh P, Singh R, et al. Pharmaceutical compounds in drinking water. J Xenobiotics. 2016;6(1):5774.

Downloads

Published

2020-03-24

How to Cite

D., B., Vaseem, A., & Singh C., S. P. (2020). A study on awareness and disposal practices of unused and expired medicines by consumers. International Journal of Basic & Clinical Pharmacology, 9(4), 556–561. https://doi.org/10.18203/2319-2003.ijbcp20201176

Issue

Section

Original Research Articles