Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) patches tend to be prescribed in larger amounts than are actually used and surplus patches are often kept at patients' homes. Improper use of these patches without the advice of healthcare professionals might result in serious adverse effects. This study investigated patients' opinions and requests regarding the prescribed amount of NSAID patches, and their intended use of surplus patches. A web-based questionnaire survey was conducted on patients who had been prescribed NSAID patches within the previous year. There were 618 respondents. Patients who described the amount of patches prescribed as “just the amount needed" and “quite or somewhat excessive" amounted to 41%and 40%of the respondents, respectively. Forty-three-percent of respondents had at some time requested a larger prescribed amount or an additional prescription. Sixty-four-percent of them received the prescription they requested. Also, 61 % of respondents had unused NSAID patches at their homes, and many of them intended to use these patches as they felt necessary. Patients who believed that NSAID patches do not induce side effects amounted to 24%, while 54%of patients had at some time suffered symptoms possibly due to systemic or local side effects of NSAID patches. Considering the above results, healthcare professionals should provide suitable and sufficient information about NSAIDs patches to patients, and take steps to minimize the numbers of unused patches remaining at the patients' homes in order to avoid improper use of NSAID patches and to reduce medication costs.
