YAKHAK HOEJI (약학회지)

The Pharmaceutical Society of Korea (대한약학회)
권호 표지

An Investigation of Medications Returned to the Community Pharmacies through "Drug-Take Back" Program

'폐의약품 수거사업'을 통해 지역약국으로 회수된 폐의약품의 분석

  • Received : 2013.12.12
  • Accepted : 2014.03.17
  • Published : 2014.04.30
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Abstract

Unused medication disposal is a problem due to the cost of disposing as well as potential risk of inadvertent dosing. Investigating medication returns is expected to suggest areas for targeting interventions to reduce medication waste. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine types of medications and identify the expiration date of the medications returned to the community pharmacies through "Drug-Take Back" program. Method: From October 10, 2012 to November 14, 2012, the medications returned to the 58 community pharmacies in Korea were examined. Results: A total of 22,160 g of pill medications were collected; 52.8% for prescription drugs and 47.2% for non-prescription drugs, respectively. The weight of the expired pill medications was more than 5 times that of the non-expired pill medications. On the other hand, 6,168 ml of liquid medications were returned; 80.0% for prescription medication and 20.0% for non-prescription medications, respectively. Of the total oral liquid medications, the volume of the expired medications was more than 5 times that of the non-expired medications. Conclusion: The majority of medications returned to the community pharmacies were prescription drugs rather than non-prescription drugs. In addition, most of the drugs were expired when they returned.

Keywords

References

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