Uncovering the Impact of Storage on Generic Medications

摘要

Storage conditions are vitally important to the overall integrity and quality of medications, and the United States Pharmacopeial Convention, the FDA, and drug manufacturers provide guidelines for proper storage. However, this factor is often overlooked, ultimately impacting the quality of the drug products patients use. The increase in the use of medication mail-order and delivery services magnifies the importance of strict adherence to recommended storage criteria from the point of manufacture to distribution of the medication to the patient. Pharmacists can play an integral role in educating patients and finding ways to overcome barriers preventing their adherence to storage protocols; additionally, pharmacists are best suited to monitoring and advising on the many factors that could impact the quality of the drug products their patients use.