[Survey on Characteristics of Potentially Abused Japanese OTC Pharmaceuticals in Japan].

Introduction: This study examines current OTC pharmaceuticals in Japan categorized as potential substances for abuse and discusses future initiatives for drug abuse prevention.

Methods: The Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency package inserts search function was used to identify OTC pharmaceuticals containing substances prone to abuse. Subsequently, the corresponding OTC pharmaceuticals containing the designated ingredients were investigated, analyzing their therapeutic and risk categories.

Results: In total, 1427 (13.9%) OTC pharmaceuticals contained the designated ingredients, with those containing methylephedrine and dihydrocodeine accounting for the majority (1245/1427, 87.2%). Among the therapeutic categories, oral cold medicines were predominant at 564, followed by antitussives and expectorants at 213, and oral rhinitis medicines at 100. Regarding risk categories, designated schedule II pharmaceuticals predominated in 9 out of 11 therapeutic category classifications.

Conclusion: Designated schedule II pharmaceuticals, such as oral cold medicines, antitussives and expectorants, and oral rhinitis medicines, pose a high risk of drug abuse. Addressing this challenge necessitates collaboration between pharmacists and registered sales clerks to implement preventive measures aligned with current trends in drug abuse.