Time to take stock and spring clean your medicine cabinet

THIS Pharmacy Month, the City recommends a medicine cabinet “spring clean”.

The City’s health directorate celebrates Pharmacy Month along with pharmaceutical services countrywide each September, with this year’s message to take appropriate care of the medication that is kept in the home.

Key aspects to always keep top of mind include: always complete the course of medication prescribed, keep medicine out of reach of children, store medicine as advised by the pharmacist

 or as indicated on the container or packaging and always check the expiry date, which most times will be printed close to the abbreviation exp/verval.

“We also want to encourage residents to do a ‘spring clean’ of the medication they have in the home. In most homes, both over the counter and prescription medication stars piling up over time. However, as time passes it reaches expiry dates. Expired medication should never be taken and an audit of what is in the medicine cupboard is advised every few months,” Mayco member for community services and health Zahid Badroodien said.

Expired medication must be disposed of in an appropriate manner, not including the bin. Residents should return unwanted medication to their nearest clinic, or any privately-run pharmacy for safe disposal and destruction.

The items should be placed in a sealed plastic bag or container to prevent spillage and must be clearly marked “Expired Medication: Healthcare Risk Waste”.

The public cannot dispose of pharmaceutical waste and sharp items such as needles, surgical blades, stitch cutters and syringes in the general waste bin at home or at a dump.

This illegal disposal of waste can cause injuries to the public as well as health problems due to contamination of the soil and water resources. Recent studies have shown that traces of medication are being found in rivers and the sea, the City said.

“We would like to appeal to our residents to work with the City to prevent that type of contamination of our environment,” Badroodien said.

“On another important matter, we urge clients on chronic medication to please collect their medicine packs timeously, as prescribed. Not all patients keep to their schedules, which means they might be interrupting the treatment, which could have negative implications for their health,” he added.

“Many facilities are distributing pre-packaged medication to clients with chronic diseases, with collection systems in place to reduce waiting times. So, if you’re a chronic client or know somebody who is, please remind them to collect their medication on time and take it as prescribed,” Badroodien said.