抄録
Sustained release oral formulations, which have various advantages such as a reduction in number of doses and the prevention of side effects by suppressing a rapid increase in blood level of drugs, are broadly used for medication. Although these formulations are frequently prescribed, their usage does not always correlation with the indications. One of the reasons for this problem is due to insufficient communication between the makers (pharmaceutical company) and the users (medical institution).
We surveyed the present usage of prescribed sustained release oral formulations at medical institutions. We then sent a questionnaire to both pharmaceutical companies and medical institutions (pharmacists) based on the investigation results. As a result, both groups generally agreed regarding the efficacy of sustained release oral formulations, while they have different points of view regarding the advantage of using these formulations. Pharmacists agreed that sustained release oral formulations could be administered with slight modifications in the prescription depending on each patient's particular condition. In contrast, R & D workers in pharmaceutical companies strongly believed that there should be no changes in the prescribed dosage regimen. It is important to clarify and understand the similarities and differences for both sides regarding the usage of sustained release oral formulations. The obtained result may lead to a more effective usage of such medications.
