1 out of 8 Koreans prescribed with narcotic anti-anxiety

MFDS analyzes big data and distributes safe use-related pamphlets to prescribers

In last year alone, one out of eight people in South Korea have been prescribed with narcotic anti-anxiety medications.

 

On Aug.

 

12, Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) informed a pamphlet on ‘Safe Use of Narcotic Anti-anxiety Medication’ would be disseminated with the relevant information found from its big data analysis on the use of narcotic anti-anxiety medications reported to the Narcotics Information Management System for year from April 2019 through March 2020.

 

The informational pamphlet allows a prescriber to self-diagnose over-prescription of the narcotic anti-anxiety medication by comparing their number of patients with the medication prescription and the volume against the overall statistics.

 

The pamphlet would provide 12 types of information to healthcare providers including overall prescription statistics (number and volume of prescription), top disorders and substances prescribed, comparison on prescription volume per patient, age limit on prescription, and overall prescription volume rank.

 

In the past 12 months, total 6.6 million patients were prescribed with narcotic anti-anxiety drugs, which is about one-eighth of the population.

 

In particular, more female patients (63.4 percent) were prescribed with the medication than male patients (36.6 percent), and the age group of 60s was using the medication the most (20.4 percent).

 

Diazepam (3.19 million), alprazolam (2.66 million) and lorazepam (1.14 million) were the most prescribed substances, and total 1.05 million patients (15.9 percent) were prescribed with medication with a warning for either elderly patients or specific age group.

 

MFDS official also stated the pamphlet would include information on propofol, zolpidem and appetite suppressant to promote adequate prescription of those narcotic medications.

 

The official added an online pamphlet system would be established as well by coming December to provide prescription statistics and information to more medical professionals.