ABSTRACT
Introduction: This study aimed to determine the trends in the use of medicines that can affect the recognition function of patients aged ≧70 years. Since 2015 when the “Safe Drug Treatment Guidelines for the Elderly” was revised, these medicines are dispensed at a community pharmacy located in a satellite city. Methods: We compared the dispensing results from 2014 to 2015-2019 and investigated the ratio of prescriptions containing the medicines that can affect the recognition function using the clinical department and medicine type. Results: Prescriptions containing medicines that can affect recognition function have been on a downward trend since 2015. During this period, the number of medicines per prescription did not decrease, and the medicines that can affect recognition function were replaced with other medicines. On the other hand, no decrease in the number of medicines that can affect recognition function was observed in internal medicine. In medicine type, the ratio of benzodiazepines drugs decreased; however, it increased again in 2019. Conclusion: There was a decreasing trend in the use of medicines that can affect recognition function of the elderly in departments other than internal medicine after 2015.
ABSTRACT
<b>Objective: We conducted a survey on the anti-doping consultation data among domestic athletes, including the number of monthly consultations, the fields targeted for consultation, and proportion (%) of consultations for medications that should be avoided or prohibited, in order to address relevant issues.<br><b>Methods: Data collected from the domestic athletes' anti-doping consultations with the pharmaceutical consultation committee of the Shiga Pharmaceutical Association in 2012 were analyzed.<br><b>Results: Most consultations occurred in March. Most (80%) of the consultations conducted within a year were sought by teams from schools, clubs, and competition associations, whereas 16% were sought by individual athletes. The remaining 4% were sought by medical institutions. The percentage of consulted ethical medications was unexpectedly high at 69%, while that of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs was 26% and that of "others," which comprised dietary and health supplements, was 5%. Among the medications consulted for, 25% were classified as "should avoid" and "prohibited" because of violations of the anti-doping code. Among the ingredients of the substances consulted for, most (75%) were classified as "others," followed by OTC drugs (38%) and ethical medicines (15%).<br><b>Conclusions: As the training environment greatly differs between domestic and international athletes, so should be the anti-doping activities. Thus, anti-doping activities suitable for domestic athletic meets should be promoted.