To clarify problems in the identification of halved tablets,we classified scored tablets for drugs included in the price list based on the positional relationship between the score and label identification code,in order to investigate the ability to identify tablets divided in half.We also carried out an investigation on halved tablets brought to hospital by inpatients between October and December in 2007.1,235 products were classified into 5 types according to the positioning and other aspects of the label codes : codes printed on both halves on the tablet face only (A),or on both the face and back (B),company and product codes separately printed on the face only (C) and those with additional information on the back (D),and tablets with 2 lines of individual code information printed on both halves on the back (E).The identification of type E was very difficult when tablets were divided in half,and 17.2% of commercial type-E drugs were high-risk drugs.Moreover,28.5% of all halved tablets brought in were high-risk drugs,halved tablets of 5 type-E products (2.1%) were not identifiable,and 81.1% of patients who brought them to hospital were 60 years of age or older.
Since the halving of tablets in Japan will increase as the elderlypopulationcontinuestogrow,itisnecessarytomanufac-ture tablets that are still easily identifiable when cut in half.
