Whether they are stored in a pharmacy refrigerator or shelf, most medications eventually expire. When this happens, a drug may put the patient and the environment at risk. Fortunately, there are many steps a pharmacy team can take to protect the community. Use this brief overview to properly deal with expired products.

What Are the Risks of Expired Medications?

Expired drugs can lose their efficacy due to chemical degradation. If a patient takes an expired drug, they may not get the full benefits needed to treat their condition. In these cases, individuals may take more than the recommended dose. This unsafe practice could lead to dependency and overdose, especially if the medication is a controlled substance, such as an opioid.

When expired medications aren’t disposed of correctly, they can contaminate the environment. For example, if a consumer flushes pills down a toilet or throws them in the trash, the drugs can eventually break down and pollute the water system. In nature, this contamination may endanger plant and animal life.

How Can Your Pharmacy Address Expired Medications?

By keeping a detailed, organized, and updated inventory, your pharmacy staff will always know when products arrived and when they need to be disposed of. When stocking shelves and pharmacy refrigerators, encourage team members to keep older items at the front so they can be distributed long before expiration.  

Depending on local regulations, your pharmacy may be permitted to host a collection event where community members can return expired medications for safe disposal.

Your pharmacy may be able to send unsold qualifying medications back to the manufacturer. Known as reverse distribution, this process allows the manufacturer to buy back the products so they can be recycled safely. Alternatively, work with a waste management company that collects and disposes of hazardous materials. 

If you manage a pharmacy, keeping medications organized and safe is easy when you have solutions from Midwest Medical Systems of Dayton, OH. Serving clients throughout the Midwest, this supplier offers a wide range of clinical freezers and pharmacy refrigerators to keep medicine at stable temperatures. They also carry an assortment of pharmacy casework and wire shelving systems to simplify inventory organization. Visit them online to learn more about these products, or call (800) 762-7722 to place an order.