MFDS notifies 1,708 doctors for misuse prescriptions of narcotic appetite suppressants

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[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced on the 18th that it will implement a 'Pre-Notification (Information Provision)' system by sending written notices to 1,708 doctors who prescribed medical narcotic appetite suppressants outside the safe use guidelines.

This is based on an analysis of big data on appetite suppressant prescriptions collected through the Narcotics Integrated Management System over six months from July to December last year. These drugs are psychotropic medicines primarily composed of phentermine, phendimetrazine, amfepramone, mazindol, and a combination of phentermine and topiramate.

These appetite suppressants are to be used short-term within 4 weeks, with a maximum usage period of 3 months, and concurrent use of two or more appetite suppressants is prohibited. Additionally, they are not allowed for use by adolescents and children.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety explained that although the number of doctors prescribing these drugs improperly decreased by about 68% due to safety measures implemented from 2020 to 2021, this second measure has been introduced to eradicate the misuse of appetite suppressants.

The Ministry will monitor the prescription and usage records of appetite suppressants for the 1,708 doctors who received the written notice over approximately three months from May to July this year. If any doctor continues to prescribe outside the safe use guidelines, their opinions will be collected, and a prohibition on prescribing and dispensing for the violated items will be notified.

If the doctor continues to prescribe and dispense appetite suppressants outside the safe use guidelines thereafter, on-site monitoring will be conducted, and administrative actions such as suspension of narcotics handling duties will be taken.

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