Anushree Herwadkar1, Neha Singh1, Carter Anderson2, Andrew Korey2, William Fowler2, Ajay K Banga3,4. 1. Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Mercer University, Atlanta, Georgia, 30341, USA. 2. Verde Environmental Technologies Inc., Burnsville, Minnesota, 55337, USA. 3. Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Mercer University, Atlanta, Georgia, 30341, USA. banga_ak@mercer.edu. 4. Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Mercer University, 3001 Mercer University , Atlanta, Georgia, 30341, USA. banga_ak@mercer.edu.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The objective of this work was to identify deactivation agents and develop a disposal system for unused/ residual/ expired medications. METHODS: Deactivation agents screened included oxidizing agent-sodium percarbonate, hydrolysis agent- sodium carbonate and adsorbants- zeolite and activated carbon. Deactivation studies using these agents were performed on four active pharmaceutical agents (APIs) including ketoprofen, dexamethasone sodium phosphate, metformin hydrochloride and amoxicillin trihydrate. Disposal systems were also designed for deactivation studies on dexamethasone pills, amoxicillin trihydrate capsules and fentanyl transdermal patches (Duragesic®). Briefly, APIs/ dosage forms were allowed to be in close contact with deactivation agents for a specified period of time and percentage decrease in the amount of API from the initial amount was measured. RESULTS: Sodium percarbonate and sodium carbonate were only successful in deactivation of amoxicillin trihydrate API. Adsorption agents resulted in more universal deactivation with activated carbon resulting in efficient deactivation of most APIs and all dosage forms tested. Also adsorption of oral dosage medications on activated carbons was maintained even on dilution and shaking and no desorption was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Deactivation systems containing activated carbon are promising for efficient, safe and environment friendly disposal of unused/residual/expired medications.
PURPOSE: The objective of this work was to identify deactivation agents and develop a disposal system for unused/ residual/ expired medications. METHODS: Deactivation agents screened included oxidizing agent-sodium percarbonate, hydrolysis agent- sodium carbonate and adsorbants- zeolite and activated carbon. Deactivation studies using these agents were performed on four active pharmaceutical agents (APIs) including ketoprofen, dexamethasone sodium phosphate, metformin hydrochloride and amoxicillin trihydrate. Disposal systems were also designed for deactivation studies on dexamethasone pills, amoxicillin trihydrate capsules and fentanyl transdermal patches (Duragesic®). Briefly, APIs/ dosage forms were allowed to be in close contact with deactivation agents for a specified period of time and percentage decrease in the amount of API from the initial amount was measured. RESULTS:Sodium percarbonate and sodium carbonate were only successful in deactivation of amoxicillin trihydrateAPI. Adsorption agents resulted in more universal deactivation with activated carbon resulting in efficient deactivation of most APIs and all dosage forms tested. Also adsorption of oral dosage medications on activated carbons was maintained even on dilution and shaking and no desorption was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Deactivation systems containing activated carbon are promising for efficient, safe and environment friendly disposal of unused/residual/expired medications.
Authors: Robby Nieuwlaat; Nancy Wilczynski; Tamara Navarro; Nicholas Hobson; Rebecca Jeffery; Arun Keepanasseril; Thomas Agoritsas; Niraj Mistry; Alfonso Iorio; Susan Jack; Bhairavi Sivaramalingam; Emma Iserman; Reem A Mustafa; Dawn Jedraszewski; Chris Cotoi; R Brian Haynes Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2014-11-20