Original Paper

Practice and Opinion towards Disposal of Unused Medication in Kuwait
Eman A. Abahussain, Douglas E. Ball, Wandikayi C. Matowe

Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Health Sciences Center, Kuwait University, Kuwait

Address of Corresponding Author

Med Princ Pract 2006;15:352-357 (DOI: 10.1159/000094268)

  Key Words

• Medications wastage
• Waste disposal
• Expired medications
• Medicine supply management
• Kuwait

  Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to measure the attitude and practice of Kuwaiti patients in Kuwait with regard to safe disposal of unwanted medicines. Subjects and Methods: Three-hundred patients or their family members waiting for prescriptions at public general hospitals in Kuwait completed a questionnaire soliciting their practice with regard to medication use and disposal, and their opinion of the best way to dispose of unwanted medicines. Results: Almost half of the respondents (45.4%) obtained medicines on prescription more than 3 times a year and almost all had unwanted medicines in the home. Reasons for possessing unused medication were mostly due to a change of medication by the doctor (48.9%), or self-discontinuation (25.8%). Their most common method of disposal was to throw unwanted medicines in the trash (76.5%) or flush them down the drain (11.2%). Half (54.0%) thought that a system of taking medicines to pharmacies for safe disposal would be favorable. Conclusion: The study indicates that the need for an appropriate method for disposal of unwanted medication exists in Kuwait. Hence, guidelines on safe disposal of unwanted medicines are required and an organized method of collecting unused medication needs to be introduced.

Copyright © 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Dr. Eman Abahussain, Department of Pharmacy Practice
Faculty of Pharmacy, Health Sciences Center, University of Kuwait
PO Box 24923, 13110 Safat (Kuwait)
Tel. +965 498 6050 or 531 2300 ext. 6050, Fax +965 534 2807
E-Mail eman_abahussain@yahoo.com or eman_a@hsc.edu.kw

  Article Information

Received: November 27, 2005
Accepted: February 5, 2006
Number of Print Pages : 6
Number of Figures : 0, Number of Tables : 3, Number of References : 19