Aim:

To quantify and classify the medicines by therapeutic classes expired or stored in the homes of students of technical courses in the health eje del Colegio Tecnológico Jeronimo Carlos do Prado, in Goiatuba, GO.

Methodology:

The investigation was carried out through the collection of disused medicines obtained from the home pharmacy of students by voluntary and anonymous delivery.

Results:

86 medications were recovered, of which 77.9% were expired. The number of prescription drugs without prescription retention was greater in relation to prescriptions with prescription retention and sale without prescription. The most common therapeutic class was the anti-inflammatory drug on the steroid, followed by analgesics and antimicrobials. Some drugs showed astills and color change in pills and, in the case of solutions, around the tapa, evidencing oxidation and alteration of the product.

Conclusions:

Even among students from the health area, there is a practice of storing medicines and some in inadequate conditions. The rational acquisition of medicines should be a fundamental issue to work at all educational levels and also in the educational talks offered by the Basic Health Units. The population needs health education to know the correct practices of storage and disposal of medicines.