Taking the guesswork out of supplying multicompartment compliance aids: do pharmacists require further guidance on medication stability?
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this article is to identify information that is currently available to pharmacists concerning the stability of medications repackaged into multicompartment compliance aids (MCAs). This article explores the potential risks associated with repackaging medications into MCAs for pharmacists who supply and patients who use them.


RESULTS
There is a paucity of information currently available to pharmacists concerning the stability of medications repackaged into MCAs as it is not routinely provided by pharmaceutical manufacturers. However, some studies have identified the potential for adverse effects on safety, bioavailability and stability that may have a clinical impact. There are also professional and legal implications of removing medications from their original packaging for storage in MCAs.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a growing need for further information concerning the stability of medications repackaged into MCAs to guide pharmacists who are supplying these compliance aids to primary and secondary care. Pharmaceutical manufacturers and researchers should be advised to conduct stability testing in MCAs for orally administered medications. This information should be readily available, and pharmacists should be made aware of it via their pharmaceutical bodies. As a result, decisions regarding MCA preparation can be more informed, and pharmacist and patient risks associated with repackaging potentially unstable medications can be minimised.
Research Department of Practice and Policy, University College London School of Pharmacy, London, UK.|Centre for Medicine Use and Safety, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Australia.
Julia Fiona-Maree
JF
Gilmartin
Research Department of Pharmaceutics, University College London School of Pharmacy, London, UK.
Bahijja Tolulope
BT
Raimi-Abraham
Research Department of Practice and Policy, University College London School of Pharmacy, London, UK.|Pharmacy Department, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
Yogini
Y
Jani
Research Department of Practice and Policy, University College London School of Pharmacy, London, UK.
Felicity
F
Smith
Research Department of Pharmaceutics, University College London School of Pharmacy, London, UK.
Mine
M
Orlu-Gul
D004349:Drug Packaging; D004355:Drug Stability; D006801:Humans; D055118:Medication Adherence; D010595:Pharmacists
community pharmacy; compliance aids; dispensing; product handling