Pharmaceutical Waste Management An Overview

Abstract

Introduction: Medication disposal is an alarming issue today and gaining more and more awareness from the healthcare professionals as well as consumers. Pharmacists have the potential to be on the forefront of this movement as a healthcare professionals and pharmacists are in an admirable position to educate patients about safe drug disposal. Proper patient counselling on safe medication disposal can make a significant difference to public health and the environment. The knowledge on method of disposal of unused medicines is equally important as that of consumption of medicines. Objective: This article aims to provide a background, the importance and significance of proper medication disposal, describe the correct methods to dispose of unwanted and expired medications. Method: The information about methods of proper disposal as well as consequence of improper disposal was collected by extensive literature survey of all available resources. Conclusion: Till date, researchers have acknowledged many human and veterinary pharmaceutical compounds at serious concentrations in drinking water resources and they are a major contributor to environmental pollution. Emphasis is also given on pharmacist role in proper disposal of unwanted and expired medicine makes a significant impact on the environment as well as it prevents accident, poisoning and intentional violence. So it will lead to the welfare of society and trudge towards goal of 2020 health for all.

Expired Medication: Societal, Regulatory and Ethical Aspects of a Wasted Opportunity

“…Dietary supplements, for example, also contain heavy metals such as iron, zinc, manganese, selenium, and molybdenum which do not incinerate easily. Ideally, the burning of pharmaceutical waste should be precisely controlled, otherwise the remains from the burning sites still have the tendency to be discharged into the ecosystem where they may cause significant damage [79].…”

In Silico and In Vitro Study of Synthesized Derivatives of 2-aryl/3, 4-difluro aryl substituted 1, 3, 4-thidiazole-2-amine.

“…Synthetic methods and characterization of these derivatives were reported in published research papers [14][15][16][17][18]. Bar graphs are plotted to explain % zone of inhibition and minimun zone of inhinbition to discuss the activity of compound against selected bacteria shown as below:…”

A questionnaire based study on the knowledge, attitude, and the practice of ecopharmacology among the healthcare professionals in a teaching hospital in India

“…17,20 According to standard guidelines also small quantity liquid medications should be diluted with water and drained. 2 Drugs or their metabolites also find their path to enter the food chain through this route. 21 22 Medications Return Program or Take-back programs in Canada and Meds Disposal in Europe.…”

“…Proper waste management strategy is needed to ensure health and environmental safety. 2 From the questionnaire it was observed that the knowledge of medical personnel and student about ecopharmacology and problems associated with it was good. Attitude of medical personnel and students was also very empathetic, but this is not transforming into practices.…”

“…There are guidelines for pharmaceutical waste management (Like GMP and FDA guidelines) for the manufacturing units, pharmacists and consumers. 2 Though the consumption phase is considered to be the biggest contributor to the emissions of medicinal products into the environment, through excretions and incorrect disposal of unused medicines through sinks and toilets, there is unawareness of correct disposal methods. Cocaine, oral contraceptives, carbamazepine and iodine contrast media are some of the examples of drugs found in traces in environment mostly in water.…”