Drug regulator issues list of 17 drugs which should be flushed down if unused or expired | India News

NEW DELHI: India’s prime drug regulatory physique, Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), has launched a list of 17 drugs which, it says, should be flushed down the sink if mendacity unused or expired at dwelling.This contains fentanyl, Tramadol and several other different painkiller drugs and Diazepam which is an anti-anxiety remedy.According to the CDSCO, these drugs might be particularly dangerous and, in some instances, deadly with only one dose if they’re utilized by somebody apart from the individual for whom the medication was prescribed. If these drugs are saved undesirable, unused or expired, the drug regulatory physique says, they should be flushed down the sink or rest room to stop hazard to folks and pets within the dwelling. However, for many different medicines used generally by folks, the drug regulatory physique in its newest tips on disposal of unused/expired drugs recommends that scientific disposal is required to stop environmental air pollution.

For that, it suggests the initiation of ‘drug take again’ initiative that would be led by both the state drug management division or native chemists initially however finally, the CDSCO recommends, the state govt in coordination with native our bodies wants to ascertain the methodology and facility for the gathering of and disposal of unused or expired drugs as per the availability of Biomedical Waste Management Rules.“Initially, state drugs control departments and concerned chemists and druggists’ associations may jointly launch ‘drug take back’ site programme at designated locations, where people can drop expired or unused drugs from their homes and that can be disposed finally by such associations under intimation to concerned state drug licencing authority with the help of registered/licenced external agencies.The CDSCO guideline follows multiple reports and studies that show how unscientific disposal of unused or unexpired drugs is causing environmental pollution, eventually affecting human life.A study by led by Dr T Velpandian of AIIMS’ ocular pharmacology division that analysed water samples from seven places in Yamuna river, including the entry and exit points, 35 bore wells in Delhi NCR and the water percolating from waste at Ghazipur landfill site in 2018 showed drugs thrown in the waste bins end up in the environment and contribute to the emergence of multi-drug resistant pathogens.The study showed presence of antibiotics and other drugs in the surface water of river Yamuna and in areas adjacent to the Ghazipur landfill. “The govt move to formulate a guideline on disposal of unused or expired drugs is commendable. We also plan to develop a pamphlet on how to dispose of drugs that will be given to all patients” said Devarat Majumdar, director and chief of pharmacy at Max healthcare.