OBJECTIVES: To analyze and evalue the economic impact of cost of stored medicines at home. METHODS: The population to investigating is constituted by 146.396 homes. The size muestral calculated was 196 homes (alpha error=0,05; confidence level 95%). The studied variables were: n persons who compose the home; n 65 years older; n of stored medicines and classes; sociocultural level; symptoms of disease in 15 days before the interview; n of persons with chronic disease and type; etc. The statistical analysis was made by the SPSS package. For quantitative: mean, DS, IC95%; for qualitative: proportions. For the analysis multivariante Student's T-test for quantitative variables and test of Chi-square for the qualitative ones. For the calculation of the cost of medicines stored in the homes one has considered 2 values: the cost of the found medication (price sales) and the real value of this medication (considering the amount of present medicine in the package at the moment of the interview). RESULTS: The total number of polled homes was of 360. The members average for home was of 3.9 (IC95% 3.8-4,0). The total of found pharmaceutical specialities was 8.544, of them 61% was financed by the NHS, and of financed ones 26.5% and 12.6% they were not bought with and without medical prescription, respectively. The average value for pharmaceutical specialities stored was €130.5/home (IC95%: 121.48-139.48). CONCLUSION: A high percentage of medication exists stored (12.6%) that in spite of needing medical prescription did not have it. The self medication increases with the level of studies. Almost 75% of the stored medication was not used by any member of the home, and almost 11% they were expired medicines. The total cost of medicines stored in our city can range between €11-13 million (10% of the whole of expense in medicines in Malaga).