Unused drug
Medicine remaining after the consumer has quit using it / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
An unused drug or leftover drug is the medicine which remains after the consumer has quit using it. Individual patients may have leftover medicines at the end of their treatment. Health care organizations may keep larger amounts of drugs as part of providing care to a community, and may have unused drugs for a range of reasons. The unused drugs should be destroyed utterly to eliminate the toxic effects of undisposed drugs on flora and fauna. The improper disposal of unused drugs could be the reason for the contamination of Surface, Ground and Drinking Water.[1] Discharge of unused antibiotics and disinfectants in the sewage system may ruin the aquatic life or contamination of drinking water.
The determination of appropriate ways for disposal of unused medications can predict the number of contamination problems of the environment. There are several studies which evidence the toxic effects of medications on the environment which are disposed of inappropriately.[2] [3] [4]