Dubai Health Authority discusses ‘Clean Your Medicine Cabinet' campaign.

• Authority encourages the public to drop-off expired or unutilized medication at any of the DHA pharmacies in Dubai
• Campaign in line with authority’s efforts to ensure safe disposal of expired medication and donation of valid medicines.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates December 14, 2015: The Dubai Health Authority, held today a #smart_clinic via raise awareness about the Authority’s, ‘Clean Your Medicine Cabinet,’ campaign.

Information about the campaign was disseminated via DHA’s page on Twitter (DHA_Dubai), Instagram and periscope.

The campaign was launched in 2011 and since then every month medicines worth approximately half a million dirhams are donated to UAE charities.

As part of the campaign, DHA pharmacies located across 16 DHA primary healthcare centres and DHA hospitals( Dubai, Rashid, Latifa and Hatta) accept expired or unutilized medications that are dropped-off by the public.

Residents can return these medications to DHA pharmacies located across Dubai at no cost.

Expired medications are disposed of in line with international pharmaceutical safety guidelines. Unutilized medications are first reevaluated by experts within the pharmacy department and then the DHA donates valid medications that are in a good condition to charities.

Dr Mohammed Sameh, head of pharmacy at Rashid Hospital said: “Expired medication can pose serious health risks to individuals if not disposed of properly.

Flushing down your medication is harmful for the environment and pollutes the water and disposing of the medicines in the garbage (even if it is tightly sealed) pollutes the soil. Therefore, the best way to dispose outdated medications is to return the medicines to the pharmacy for safe disposal.”

He added that the DHA coordinates with relevant authorities to dispose expired medication.

Dr Sameh warned about the dangerous effects of consuming expired medicines and said, “After expiry, the chemical structure of medicines change and it breaks down. This can reduce the effect of the medicine, or the medicine may become totally useless or worst case scenario is that it may become toxic.

Bacteria and fungi can grow in expired medicines which can increase their toxicity. It is also important to note that liquids such as antibiotics break down faster.”

He added that eye drops should be disposed of one month after the date of opening because of the risk of bacterial or fungal growth.

Dr Nada Amiri, head of pharmacy at Latifa Hospital added that expired insulin injections have reduced potency which means if the patient uses such injections, it won’t bring down the blood sugar level to the desired extent and it may also have other harmful effects.

In terms of ensuring safety of medicines that are stored at home, Amiri said that medicines should be checked regularly so that the medicine box does not have expired medication. “Medicines should be stored in a cool and dry place; they should be in one container that is out of the reach and sight of children and pets.

These are basic precautions which parents should always keep in mind. Medicines should be stored below 25 degrees and medicines which need to be stored in the fridge should be stored between 2 to 8 degrees.”

Dr Nadia Mohamed Amour, Acting head of pharmacy department at Dubai Hospital added that bathrooms and kitchens are not ideal places to store medicines due to exposure to sunlight, heat and humidity and that the ideal place to store medicine is in a dark place and cool place.

Safety tips on usage and storage of medication:

• Keep an updated list of all medicines at home.

• Ensure that medications are out of reach of children and pets.

• This is especially true for medications that look like water or soft drinks.

• Never tell your children medicines taste like candy, sweets etc. Let them know from a young age that medications are only consumed to recover from an illness.

• Always store medicines and vitamins in a locked location- out of reach and sight of children.

• Resist the temptation to keep medicines in a purse or briefcase, or in an unlocked cabinet or a drawer that is within your child’s reach.

• Instead, for convenience set a daily alarm for yourself so that you take your medicines regularly.

• Remind nannies and houseguests to keep purses and bags that contain medicines at a height so that it is out of reach of children and pets.

• It is advisable to take your medicines at the same time daily.

• When medicines are misused and taken without medical advice they can be dangerous and do more harm than good for the body.

• Medicines when used as advice by your healthcare practitioner will have positive effects on your body and health.

• Read proper storage instructions for all medications.

• Medications that need to be reconstituted e.g.: antibiotics or after opening some medications, should be stored at 2 to 8 degrees.

• In general, medications should be stored at room temperature, below 25 degrees.

• Medications should be stored away from sunlight and humidity.

• In the UAE summer months, ensure medications are stored in an air-conditioned room, or in cooler areas of your house.

• Some medications need to be kept in the refrigerator.

• Check to see that medications which need refrigeration are stored in an area where they will NOT freeze.

• You should store them in a box or container that sets them apart from your food section. Again - ensure this is out of your children’s reach.

• The kitchen and bathroom are avoidable places to store medicine because of the heat and moisture generated.

• Store all medicines in one designated location together. The location should be a dry and cool place.

• Write date of opening on medications prominently and discard unused medication within one week, one month or as mentioned.
• Do not share medications prescribed to you with others. Your medicine is ONLY suitable for you.
• Keep medications in an original container.

• Never leave your medicines in the car; the heat destroys the effectiveness of the medicines.

• Do not self-prescribe as it can have harmful effects.

• Regular use of antibiotics causes antibiotic resistance which means the antibiotic will fail to work.

• Antibiotics should be taken as prescribed, never miss your dose.

• It is important to tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding as some medications are contraindicated during this time.

• Liver failure and/or kidney failure disease patients should tell their GP’s about their condition, as medications will be prescribed accordingly.

• Paediatric medicines are based on age an weight and therefore dosage should be prescribed by the physician

• Do not over use pain killers.