Outdated Medication and Inventory Management - Essay Example

"Outdated Medication and Inventory Management" is a great example of a paper on drug development.
With controlled substances, the return process differs in that the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) regulates their disposal. Therefore, the reverse distributor must be authorized by the DEA to process controlled substances. These substances must be disposed of in a manner that complies with state and federal laws.

One manufacturer that offers rebates for returning inventory is Pfizer. Founded in 1849, they are one of the largest pharmaceutical manufacturers in the world. Merck is another large pharmaceutical company that offers rebates for returning inventory as well. They have been around since 1851 and are the second-largest healthcare company in the world.

In regards to drug returns, medications that are not deliverable to the patient may be returned if they are in the manufacturer’s original packaging and have not been opened. They may also be returned if they are in the pharmacy’s original packaging. The drugs must also have a verified future expiration date. Drugs that meet these criteria can be redistributed. Recent laws also require pharmacies to comply with inventory practices that reduce the overall amount of drug returns (EPA, 2010). If drugs can not be reused, they must be disposed of accordingly.

Controlled substances must be destroyed by a DEA authorized company or program, or by the DEA themselves. Documentation of the drugs being disposed of must also be kept. Drugs should only be flushed if the “patient information specifically states to flush them” (Medication Disposal, 2010). Drugs that do not meet these criteria must be disposed of using approved hazardous waste containers or another acceptable form of disposal that does not involve flushing.