Storage, reuse, and disposal of unused medications: A cross-sectional study among rural households of Singur, West Bengal

Knowledge and awareness of disposal of unused and expired medications among medical undergraduates of A Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital at B G Nagar: A cross-sectional observational study

“…In majority of the students had unused drugs at their home which is similar to findings of Sirisha et al study where 43.37% had 1-5 leftover drugs in tablet form in majority of cases. [20] The first most common reason given for drugs present at home was "self-discontinuation" after illness recovery (70%) before the prescribed period, our findings were similar to Maharana et al (61.4%), [21] Sirisha et al, [20] and Osei-Djarbeng et al [22] studies suggesting that prescribed medicines are not used as prescribed and as soon as the illness improved, drugs were stopped which would have harmful consequence even though they feel better, because this kind of behavior can increase the resistant organisms to active drug molecule [16] and other reasons were leftover from the previous OTC drugs (59%), and around 50% of them cited drugs passed expiry date and doctor changed treatment. These findings were in par with other studies [20,21] and differed from Azad et al study where majority of them cited reason as doctor prescribed more than required, but other reasons were similar to this study.…”

“…[20] Maharana et al study most commonly stored antacids which were less in this study. [21] Storing of different class of drugs adds to stock, and this suggests a lack of knowledge regarding proper disposal of drugs. [28] 37 (75.51%) were knowing consequences of storage and improper drug disposal which is good sign suggesting their awareness and knowledge which likely results in drug abuse, drug misuse for recreational purpose, accidental poisoning in children's, and environmental hazards which were in congruence with Sirisha et al study.…”

“…Only 8.59% specified they would keep it for reuse which is less than the previous studies. [21,27] This is a positive point which should be encouraged and make aware of the consequences of reuse and storage and disposal practice keeping ecopharmacovigilance in mind.…”

A study of knowledge and practice for disposal of unused and expired pharmaceuticals among medical undergraduates at tertiary care teaching hospitals in Uttar Pradesh, India

“…Majority of students in this study had unused drugs at their home which is very high than findings of Sirisha et al study where 67% had upto 5 leftover drugs in tablet form in majority of cases while 46.88% had unused drug in study by Shivaraju et al 27,28 Among the reason for possession of unused drugs, self discontinuation was 75% in this study which is comparable to studies by Maharana et al, Sirisha et al, and Osei-Djarbeng. 27,29,30 Our results were far higher than study by Ahmed et al 31 Other reasons like left over from previous OTC, doctor changed the medicines and drug passed expiry date were also there which are at par with other studies. 27,29 Most of the unused drugs kept at home belongs to analgesics (34%) and antibiotics (29%) while few of them had antipyretics (11%), cough syrups (10%), topical formulations (8%) and anti-histaminic (8% In the process of drug development, a new chemical entity is not studied for any deterioration in its efficacy, potency, and safety after proposed expiry date; however, its expiry date is based on stability and sterility studies.…”

“…27,29,30 Our results were far higher than study by Ahmed et al 31 Other reasons like left over from previous OTC, doctor changed the medicines and drug passed expiry date were also there which are at par with other studies. 27,29 Most of the unused drugs kept at home belongs to analgesics (34%) and antibiotics (29%) while few of them had antipyretics (11%), cough syrups (10%), topical formulations (8%) and anti-histaminic (8% In the process of drug development, a new chemical entity is not studied for any deterioration in its efficacy, potency, and safety after proposed expiry date; however, its expiry date is based on stability and sterility studies. It is documented that at expiry, drugs should be at least 90% potent.…”