Unnecessary medicines stored in homes of patients at risk of medication misadventure

Abstract

Background: The storage of unnecessary medicines poses safety concerns including patient confusion, inappropriate medication use and unintentional ingestion by children. Consumer storage and wastage of medicines is of concern to health practitioners and the Australian government. Aim: To describe, quantify, establish safety concerns, and estimate the cost of unnecessary medicines stored in patients' homes. Method: Patients discharged from two hospitals in 2002 who were part of a study of a community liaison pharmacy service, had their unnecessary medicines removed (with permission) during the home visit. Details of removed medicines, including costs, were recorded and analysed. Results: A mean of 4.6 medicines/patient (range 1-21) that had expired or no longer required were removed from the homes of 85 patients. A quarter of the items had expired at the time of collection. There were significant alterations to, or deficiencies in. the removed medicines. The mean cost of medicines removed was $65/patient. Conclusion: Patients place themselves at increased risk of medication misadventure by storing unnecessary medicines in their homes. As well as creating risks to the safety of patients and children, this practice results in wastage of health resources.