Medicines play an important role in our life. They‘re prescribed for various medical conditions from pain to chronic diseases (such as hypertension and diabetes) and they’re stored in every household.
However, some of these medicines have been kept and unused. A local survey conducted by Md. Abul Kalam Azad et. al., showed that common reasons for unused medicines being stored includes:
1. Unsure ways to dispose
2. Do not want to “waste” the medicine
3. Thinks he/she might need the medicine later
However, many are not aware keeping medicines after they are no longer needed creates an unnecessary health risk in the home. American Association of Poison Control Centers’ 2007 annual reported 23,783 people were involved accidental exposures to another person’s medicine. Approximately 5,000 of these accidental exposure cases involved children 6 years and younger!
Therefore, it is vital to create awareness on safe disposal of medicines, which also helps to protect our environment.
Your options
1. Medicines take back programs
In 2010, the Pharmaceutical Services Division, Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH) has implemented the Return Your Medicines Program. Through this program, patients can return their unused or excess medicines to pharmacy counter or medicine return box provided at all MOH hospitals and health clinics.
2. “In-home” disposal
Most medicines can be safely disposed by following a few simple steps below:
• Remove unwanted medicine from its container. Scratch out all information on the prescription label to make it unreadable.
• Mix medicines with an unpalatable substance such as kitty litter, used coffee grounds or other unpalatable home waste. Do NOT crush tablets or capsules. Some medicines, such as those for cancer treatment or antibiotics, are specially formulated to delay and avoid high concentrations of medicine being released.
• Place the mixture in a container such as a plastic bag. Seal well to avoid leaching. Discard with normal household trash.
3. Disposal by flushing
There are a small number of medicines that may be especially harmful or even fatal if they are
ingested by someone other than the person for whom the medicine was prescribed. These few medicines should be flushed down the toilet as soon as they are no longer needed. Check with your pharmacist for the list of medicines recommended for disposal by flushing.
Manage it
Be an informed consumer. This can help you to use your medicine safely, reduce risk of accidental exposure, and minimize wastage. Following are a few tips which may be helpful:
1. Keep a record of all medicines and supplements you are taking. If you are seeing a few doctors for various medical conditions, review the list with your doctor. This can prevent poly-pharmacy.
2. Always comply with treatment regimen. Do not stop taking prescription medicines even if you are feeling better; unless with your doctor’s approval.
3. Keep medicines in their original containers, and never put more than one kind of medicine in the same container. This can also help you keep track of the expiry date of each medicine.
4. Let CARiNG pharmacist help you. Speak to CARiNG pharmacist and enquire if they can help you keep a Patient Medication Record and review your medicines (MUR)
See more at: http://caring2u.com/index.php
