Ecopharmacy – a new interdisciplinary direction. Methodology. Development prospects

Aim. To analyze the influence of pharmacy on human ecology and the environment, generalize and structurize the interactions and interrelations identified. Materials and methods. Methods of scientific analysis, in particular generalization, comparison, content analysis were used.Results. The main components and prospects for development of a new interdisciplinary direction – ecopharmacy are presented. For the first time the classification of drugs according to their ecopharmacological profile has been proposed. The criteria by which drugs can be considered ecopharmacological or ecopharmacounsafe have been determined. The reference points, by which the patient’s treatment can be characterized as ecopharmacotherapy, have been indicated. The problem of safe disposal of inappropriate drugs has been updated.Conclusions. A new interdisciplinary direction that unites pharmacy, ecology, and chemistry – ecopharmacy has been proposed. Optimization and personification of therapy with prescription of primarily ecopharmacological drugs will allow reaching the level of ecopharmacotherapy and reducing the number of prescriptions of ecopharmacounsafe drugs. One of the most important issues of ecopharmacy at the present stage is improvement of disposal of inappropriate drugs.