Development of an Informative System for Consumers and Pharmacists Aimed at the Proper Use of Kampo OTCs.

Development of an Informative System for Consumers and Pharmacists Aimed at the Proper Use of Kampo OTCs. Yakugaku Zasshi. 2016;136(2):273-9 Authors: Takano-Ohmuro H, Nakajima Y, Saito M, Yuda Y Abstract   Kampo medicines must be used according to an individual's physical characteristics and symptoms to avoid lack of efficacy, adverse reactions or interactions with other drugs. As category-2 over-the-counter drugs (OTCs), Kampo OTCs are not targets of active explanations by pharmacists, and consumers usually decide to use OTCs by themselves on the basis of drug label information. However, information on the label is occasionally brief. To promote the proper use of Kampo OTCs, we herein propose an informative tool based on the Australian Shelf-Talker (information on the proper use of OTCs with a self-check questionnaire for consumers), the Self-Check Card (SCC). We also prepared the informative material, Information to the Pharmacist (IP), directed at pharmacists regarding these Kampo OTCs. We created SCCs and IPs for 16 prescriptions in the 5 most demanded categories (cold, cough/sore throat, urination problems, women's diseases, and shoulder stiffness or joint/nerve pain). The SCC with questions in a simplified language specifies individuals who should avoid the drug, or those who should consult a pharmacist before purchase, according to the safety information on the respective drug labels. The IP provides information to pharmacis...
Source: Yakugaku Zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Tags: Yakugaku Zasshi Source Type: research