Abstract

PILING UP OF MEDICATIONS AT HOME: UNVEILING THE REASONS

*Akhila Ann Cherian, Gayathri S., Nayana Rachel Koshy and Dr. Jiji Alfred

.

Abstract

Possessions of unused drugs can lead to situations like self-medication, consumption of wrong drugs and increase the risk of drug misuse. This abstract aims to evaluate the reasons for possession of unused medicines among the general population in Eraviperoor Grama Panchayath, Pathanamthitta, Kerala. This is a descriptive crosssectional survey conducted among 800 respondents in Eraviperoor Grama Panchayath, Kerala. Data were collected through interviews using a pre-validated structured questionnaire. Institutional Ethics Committee approval was obtained. Approximately 95% of participants possessed unused medicines at their home. Most households contain 1- 5 such drugs. Possession of unused medications was prevalent among the respondents. These findings call upon the need to prescribe and dispense drugs more cautiously. Moreover, the medication adherence should be closely monitored.

Keywords: Unused Medications, Drug misuse, Stockpiling, Medication adherence.