Abstract:

Abstract Introduction: Annually, 10–28 thousand tons of medicines are inappropriately discarded in the environment by Brazilian consumers, being a great problem in public and environmental health. The lack of knowledge of the population about the impacts generated is one of the factors that promote this scenario. Objective: To perform the characterization of expired or unused medicines received in educational practices in Goiânia, Goiás State, Brazil. Method: Educational practices and receipt of expired/unused medicines occurred in June, October and December 2018 in different places of Goiânia (educational institution, municipal parks etc). The medicines were characterized regarding the pharmaceutical form, therapeutic classes, compliance with current Brazilian legislation etc, and forwarded to an environmentally correct disposal. Results: 866 medicines were received, predominantly products of national origin (98.72%), human use (97.46%), solid pharmaceutical forms (75.64%), unused (10.16%) or expired (86.26%), and industrialized medicines of the generic (26.32%), similar (39.26%) or reference (28.86%) types. In addition, 17.10% were free medicine samples, mainly contraceptives, antihypertensives and antibacterials. Moreover, 7.51% were medicines under special control (Ordinance No. 344/1998), while 9.12% were antimicrobials with a need for retention of the prescription (RDC No. 20/2011). Among the drugs classified in the therapeutic classes covered by the RDC No. 222/2018, 344 (39.72%) were received, among them: antimicrobials (18.93%), hormones (14.20%), immunosuppressants (6.12%) and antiretrovirals (0.47%). Conclusions: In view of the large amount of pharmaceutical waste characterized in this study, it is highlighted the need to promote continuing educational practices to provide the population with correct information and public awareness. Moreover, it is important to establish effective legislative instruments to promote the environmentally correct disposal of expired/unused medications found in household environments.

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