Reasons why medicines are returned to Swedish pharmacies unused.
OBJECTIVE
To identify the reasons and their relative importance why medicines are returned to Swedish pharmacies unused.


METHODS
A random sample of the pharmacies in Sweden.


METHODS
Interviews using a semi-structured interview form with pharmacy customers returning unused medicines to the pharmacy.


METHODS
Reasons given by patients/relatives/carers for returning unused medicines to the pharmacy.


RESULTS
The four main reasons for returning unused medicines to the pharmacy were: (1) the medicines were too old, (2) the user had died, (3) there was no need for the medicine anymore, and (4) therapy changes. These reasons made up 75% of all reported reasons.


CONCLUSIONS
Hoarding or over-supply of prescribed medicines may explain a large part of the volume of medicines that remain unused. Actions aiming to reduce waste of prescribed medicines ought to focus on those patients who contribute to a substantial part of all unused medicines.
Ekedahl
Anders B E
AB
R&D Department, The National Corporation of Swedish Pharmacies, Medical Research Centre (MRC) Ing 59, University Hospital MAS, SE-205 02, Malmö, Sweden. anders.ekedahl@med.lu.se
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003157:Community Pharmacy Services; D003643:Death; D016527:Drug Costs; D004355:Drug Stability; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D017744:Medical Waste Disposal; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D013548:Sweden
D017744:Medical Waste Disposal; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations