Objective:
To identify the reasons and their relative importance why medicines are returned to Swedish pharmacies unused.
Setting:
A random sample of the pharmacies in Sweden.
Method:
Interviews using a semi-structered interview form with pharmacy customers returning unused medicines to the pharmacy.
Main outcome measure:
Reasons given by patients/relatives/carers for returning unused medicines to the pharmacy.
Results:
The four main reasons for returning unused medicines to the pharmacy were: (1) the medicines were too old, (2) the user had died, (3) there was no need for the medicine anymore, and (4) therapy changes. These reasons made up 75% of all reported reasons.
Conclusion:
Hoarding or over-supply of prescribed medicines may explain a large part of the volume of medicines that remain unused. Actions aiming to reduce waste of prescribed medicines ought to focus on those patients who contribute to a substantial part of all unused medicines.