대한약국학회

Evaluation of the adequacy of drug prescriptions about obesity in local 

pharmacy 

Sihyeong. KIM

1

 , Jaehyun. JOO 2  and M. KANG

3  

College of Pharmacy

1,3  ,WS University, Wan-ju 55338, Korea  

Geumgang Pharmacy

2

, Seoul, Korea  

Abstract 

Introduction  

Obesity is a major cause of chronic disease, and in the 2018 National Health Statistics, there are 42.8% for 

men and 25.5% for women, and the prevalence is on an increasing trend. Obesity leads to other lifestyle 

diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, and degenerative arthritis, which leads to an increased 

mortality rate. And, the number of management cases is increasing. However, the trend is these drugs is using 

for cosmetic, so needed for the monitoring.   

While practicing from August 10 to September 11 at the Geumgang Pharmacy located in Yeongdeungpo-gu, 

Seoul, we studied the obesity treatment regimen. According to the guidelines for the treatment of obesity and 

the standards for safe use of appetite suppressants, it was confirmed that the prescription was appropriate. In 

addition,  off-label  prescription,  that  is,  drugs  used  for  indications  that  are  not  licensed  in  Korea  were 

investigated and frequency of use was confirmed.  

Purpose 

The purpose of this study is to examine the Evaluation of the adequacy of drug prescriptions about obesity 

in  clinics  in  Yeongdeungpo-gu,  where  Geumgang  Pharmacy  is  located.  The  drug  prescription  period  was 

analyzed by referring to patient records and prescription records. The period is from August 1st to September 

2nd. 

Method   

  There are five types of appetite suppressants licensed by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety: Phentermine, 

fendimethazine, diethylpropion, majindol, and fendimethazine/topiramate combination.   

Appetite suppressants are classified as psychotropic drugs. Therefore, it is managed by local pharmacies 

through an integrated drug management system. According to the standards for safe use of medical narcotics 

appetite  suppressants,  “Pentermine,  fendimethazine,  diethylpropion,  and  Margindol”  are  short-term 

prescriptions within 4 weeks within the approved dose and should be used within a maximum of 3 months. 

Therefore, the judgment of prescription adequacy was based on the standards for safe use of appetite 

suppressants. In addition, guidelines for safe use of appetite suppressants and obesity treatment guidelines 

were  referenced.  The  efficacy  and  combination  of  prescribed  drugs  were  classified.  We  focused  on 

fendimethrazine, an appetite suppressant, and checked whether the appropriate prescription period was 

being followed by using the pharmacy computer program PHARM IT 3000. 

In addition, a combination of drugs that were additionally prescribed in addition to the appetite suppressant 

were identified. Among them, the ratio of prescriptions of drugs used for off-label prescriptions (medicines 

prescribed for purposes other than those of permission) was examined. 

Among  the  appetite  suppressants,  it  was  limited  to  patients  who  prescribed  fendimethrazine  and 

phentermine, which are most commonly used in nearby clinics. Patient cases are selected from August 1st to 

September 2nd, 2020. 

 Result 

The  total  number  of  prescriptions  was  84,  with  fendimethrazine  78 and  phentermine  6.  None  of  these  were 

prescribed with other psychotropic drugs, and none were prescribed with other appetite suppressants. Off-label 

prescriptions were 61, 52, and 3 capurine S tablets, dicatin tablets, and topiramate, respectively. 

17 cases of appetite suppressants were prescribed for more than 3 months in a row, and 4 of them were prescribed 

for more than 6 months. It saids, 17 cases did not meet the guidelines of appetite suppressants . 

Therefore, as a result of the evaluation of prescription appropriateness, about 20.2% is evaluated as inappropriate. 

Conclusion 

It was judged that there was no overlapping prescription with other appetite suppressants, and this was managed 

by the integrated drug management system. 

The patient's weight information is the content that the patient may be reluctant to inform the pharmacy, and it 

relied on the content of the prescription. This does not accurately represent the current weight information.                 

According  to  the  criteria  for  safe  use  of  appetite  suppressants,  which  is  one  of  the  basis  for  judging  the 

appropriateness of prescription, it is recommended to use it for patients with a BMI of 25 kg/m2 or more. There was 

insufficient evidence to determine whether this criterion was satisfied. Further research is needed. 

There is no legal basis for restrictions on off-label prescription. Patients will be obligated to fully inform them of 

their use for any purpose. Pharmacies and pharmacists should fully explain these facts when guiding medication. 

Key word: Obesity, Phendimetrizine, Phentermine, Appetite suppressant,   

Off-label use, Community pharmacy