Pharmaceutical Waste Reduction Strategies

Repackage large quantities into unit doses

Drugs are bought in large quantities and the pharmacy splits them into unit doses.

Reduces Amount: Yes
Reduces Toxicity: No

Examples of Applying this Strategy

Generic Drug: Clonazepam

Tablets that cannot be purchased in smaller sizes were split in the pharmacy, in order to deliver appropriate amounts of medication.

Proprietary Drug(s): Klonopin
Delivery Method(s): Oral Tablet

For more information:

Stouffer, Randi. "Tablet-Splitting Study at St. Mary's Hopital, Madison, WI." April 2013.

Randi Stouffer
700 S. Park St.
Madison, WI, 53715

Phone: 6082516100
Email: Randi_stouffer@ssmhc.com


Generic Drug: Quetiapine

Tablets that cannot be purchased in smaller sizes were split in order to deliver appropriate amounts of medication.

Proprietary Drug(s): Seroquel
Delivery Method(s): Oral Tablet

For more information:

Stouffer, Randi. "Tablet-Splitting Study at St. Mary's Hopital, Madison, WI." April 2013.

Randi Stouffer
700 S. Park St.
Madison, WI 53715

Phone: 6082516100
Email: Randi_stouffer@ssmhc.com


Generic Drug: ALL tablets

Proprietary Drug(s): ALL tablets
Delivery Method(s): Oral Tablet

For more information:

Stouffer, Randi. "Tablet-Splitting Study at St. Mary's Hopital, Madison, WI." April 2013.

Randi Stouffer
700 S. Park St.
Madison, WI 53715

Phone: 6082516100
Email: Randi_stouffer@ssmhc.com


For more information:

Carl, Ken. "Pharmaceutical Pollution Prevention." Center for Environmental Information, July 2011. Web. 14 June 2013.

Center for Environmental Information
249 Highland Avenue
Rochester, NY 14620

Phone: (207) 948 - 3131 ext 295


Generic Drug: Decavac

Decavac can be administered from single-dose syringes instead of a multi-dose vial, minimizing drug waste and eliminating the mercury preservative thimerosal.

Proprietary Drug(s): Decavac
Delivery Method(s): Injectable

For more information:

Smith, Charlotte, Pines, Eydie et al. "Managing Pharmaceutical Waste: A 10-Step Blueprint for Healthcare Facilities In the United States." Practice Greenhealth, 2008.

Healthcare Environmental Resource Center

Phone: (734) 995-7989


Generic Drug: Barium Sulfate

It was expected that the Albany Medical College's South Clinical Campus would have high volumes of barium liquid waste in their Diagnostic Radiology department. However, wastage was less than anticipated due to this department's use of unit dosing.

Proprietary Drug(s): E-Z-Paque, E-Z Cat, E-Z-HD, Polibar, Tonopaque, Entrobar
Delivery Method(s): Oral Liquid

For more information:

Mankes, Russell. Albany Medical Center. Practice Greenhealth, 29 Oct. 2009. Web. 10 June 2013.

Russell Mankes
43 New Scotland Avenue
Albany, NY 12208

Phone: (518) 262-5490
Fax: (518) 262-8638
Email: mankesr@mail.amc.edu


Generic Drug: Metoprolol Tartrate

A hospital found that although only 50 mg of Lopressor were regularly administered, the 100 mg tablet size was being purchased and split, resulting in a 50 mg waste. Lopressor and its generic, metoprolol are both available in smaller sizes. See page 53 of the 10 Step Blueprint, below.

Proprietary Drug(s): Lopressor, Metoprolol Tartrate
Delivery Method(s): Oral Tablet

For more information:

Smith, Charlotte, Pines, Eydie et al. "Managing Pharmaceutical Waste: A 10-Step Blueprint for Healthcare Facilities In the United States." Practice Greenhealth, 2008.

Healthcare Environmental Resource Center

Phone: (734) 995-7989


Additional Resources

"In Struggle to Cut Expenses, Hospitals Eye the Pharmacy" --article from Hospital & Health Networks magazine
http://www.hhnmag.com/hhnmag/jsp/articledisplay.jsp?dcrpath=HHNMAG/Article/data/
11NOV2011/1111HHN_FEA_pharmacy&domain=HHNMAG

©2015 Healthcare Environmental Resource Center
Home