STORAGE OF DRUGS

CONTENTS # INTRODUCTION. # LEGAL ASPECTS ON STORAGE. # DETAILS OF STORAGE CONDITIONS IN I.P IN USP # ARRANGEMENT OF THE STORE ROOM.

INTRODUCTION The Responsibility for the storage of the drug should be placed with component individuals who have been educated, trained and licensed under the drugs and cosmetic Act to handle pharmaceuticals. SUCH INDIVIDUALS OBVIOUSLY ARE THE PHARMACISTS In order to ensure that the pharmacist may properly supervise the storage of the drugs, they should be stored in an area directly under his control.

LEGAL ASPECTS ON STORAGE OF DRUGS As such there is no direct mandate on storage of drugs. Various pharmacopoeias give non-mandatory suggestions with respect to storage of drugs under the heading of storage and under each monographs of the drugs. However, schedule C and C1 gives list of biological and special products for parenteral and non -parenterals. Accordingly drug licences under 19C,19,19A and 19AA are given to whole-sale, retail-sale etc, provided it is satisfied that the owner has a refrigerator i.e a place for cold-storage. Another Legal point when, it comes to storage of the drugs is Schedule-‘P that makes it mandatory to write about shelflife of medicines in the form of Batch No.Manufacturing date and Expiry Date’ of each product. It is expected that pharmacist does not sell the medicines after the expiry date.

COLD COOL ROOM TEMPERATURE WARM EXCESSIVE HEAT CONTROLLED RT FREEZER Storage Conditions Written on pack. Indian standards as per Indian Pharmacopoeia 1996. U.S Standards as per USP 1995. COLD Any temperature not exceeding 8°C & usually between 2°C & 8°C. Any temperature not exceeding 8°C.A refrigerator is a cold place in which the temperature is maintained thermostatically between 2°C & 8°C. COOL Any temperature between 8°C & 25°C. Any temperature between 8°C & 15°C. ROOM TEMPERATURE Temperature prevailiing in a working area. Temperature prevailing in a working area. WARM Any temperature between 30 & 40°C. Any temperature between 30 & 40°C. EXCESSIVE HEAT Any temperature above 40°C. CONTROLLED RT A temperture maintained thermostatically that encompases the usual and customary working environment of 20°C to 25°C. FREEZER A place in which the temperature is mantained thermostatically between -2°C & -10°C. Detail of storage conditions explained in IP & USP

ARRANGEMENT OF THE STORE ROOM NO SPECIFIC OR DEFINITE RULES EXIST TELLING US HOW A PHARMACY STORE ROOM MAY BE OR SHOULD BE ARRANGED. EACH PHARMACIST MAY THEREFORE SELECT HIS PATTERN OF ARRANGEMENT ACCORDING TO THE PARTICULAR REQUIREMENTS OF THE HOSPITALS. GENERALLY SPEAKING IN A LARGE GENERAL HOSPITAL HANDLING A VARIETY OF ARTICLES THE STORE ROOM IS DIVIDED INTO THE FOLLOWING AREAS:- 1) Alcohol, and other spirituous products 2) Strong room or steel cabinets with locks for narcotics 3) Biologicals and other cold storage items 4) Tablets and capsules 5) Ointments, pastes and other similar externals 6) Liquids in bulk 7) Chemicals

8) Laboratory supplies 9) Surgical instrument 10) Rubber goods 11) Sutures 12) Medical gases 13) Miscellaneous Wherever possible alphabetical arrangements should be followed within each section,each shelf,each drawer or bin.Within each section each item should be numbered to facilitate their location while taking physical inventory as well as to locate the items for new workers. PHARMACY DRAWER SYSTEM PHARMACY FRIDGE

REFERENCE A Text-Book of hospital Pharmacy, S.H.Merchant and DR.J.S.Quadry, B.S.Shah Prakashan, Ahmedabad.