MFDS Warns Prescribing Doctors to Be Cautious of ADHD Medication Misuse Concerns

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced that on the 30th, it will conduct a 'pre-notification' to 6,237 prescribing doctors suspected of misuse to promote appropriate prescription and use of methylphenidate (a narcotic and psychotropic drug) used as a treatment for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

The Ministry analyzed prescription information for methylphenidate over the past two months from the Narcotics Integrated Management System and, according to the 'Action Standards for Preventing Methylphenidate Misuse,' sends electronic documents via a certified electronic document intermediary to the doctors suspected of misuse. These documents are delivered to the doctors' KakaoTalk and text message accounts under their own names.

Based on the current 'ADHD Treatment Drug Safe Use Standards,' the Ministry gathered opinions from related academic societies and associations and, after resolution by the 'Narcotics Safety Management Deliberation Committee,' established the 'Action Standards for Preventing Methylphenidate Misuse.' The action standards include cases such as prescriptions or administration exceeding three months, prescriptions or administration outside the purpose of treating ADHD or narcolepsy, prescribing or administering immediate-release tablets for adult ADHD treatment, and prescriptions or administration exceeding the maximum approved daily dosage.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety plans to reflect the 'Action Standards for Preventing Methylphenidate Misuse' in related regulations.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.