The mandatory verification of fentanyl prescription history has been implemented, and prescriptions for fentanyl patches are showing a downward trend.
According to the Food and Drug Safety Administration on the 22nd, the prescription volume of fentanyl patches recorded 195,934 cases on March 19, a decrease of 7.2% (15,131 cases) compared to 211,065 cases during the same period last year. Since recording 212,925 cases in December of last year, the prescription volume of fentanyl patches has fallen below 200,000 cases for three consecutive months starting from January of this year.
The number of patients prescribed fentanyl patches is also decreasing. The number of patients prescribed fentanyl patches fell from 26,219 in January last year to 22,029 in January this year. In February and March, the number has remained around 20,000.
The Food and Drug Safety Administration implemented the medical narcotics prescription history verification system in June last year. In response to growing concerns about the misuse of narcotics, the verification system was introduced, prioritizing fentanyl patches, which were identified as the biggest issue. As a result, doctors and dentists can review patients' past prescription histories before prescribing fentanyl and may refrain from prescribing or administering it if there are concerns about misuse, such as excessive or duplicate prescriptions.
The government plans to expand the mandatory prescription history verification system to include treatments for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and appetite suppressants.