• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.864-874
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• 2005

This study was done as a general survey on oriental medical approaches for the detoxification and treatment of narcotics addiction. The treatment of narcotics addiction comprises the detoxification and the restoration of normal health. Medical detoxification in common use nowadays is largely divided into substitution therapy using opiate detoxicants and symptomatic therapy using non-opiate detoxicants. Experimentation was done on the supposition that non-opiate detoxicants provide a more viable therapy than opiate detoxicants in the treatment of narcotics addiction, because opiate detoxicants also produce a great dependency on a narcotic. At present, although the medication of oriental medicine that includes non-opiate detoxicants is not more effective in the detoxification than the opiate detoxicants, withdrawal symptoms are slight and few and there is a very low ratio of relapse, so treatment and restoration are relatively brief. Results of this survey suggest that detoxicants derived from oriental medical approaches are safe and effective, though further development of therapy with such detoxicants will be needed to provide reliable methods of treating narcotics addiction. Based on this survey, it is hoped that many more studies will be done on the issue of medication in the field of narcotics addiction treatment.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.48-56
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• 1994

In order to study the factors influencing upon right medication of antibiotic for the consumers who can easily buy antibiotic from pharmacy, the study carried out questionnaires to 568 consumers who bought antibiotics from pharmacies located in Seoul And Kyung-gi do from the 1st of February, 1994 to the 28th of the same month. Materials have been analyzed with $X^-test$ of SAS, and its results are as follows. 1. Among 568 objects of this study, the group which can medicare antibiotic properly (the right use group of antibiotic) is 45.5% with 258, while the group which does not recognize correctly the use of antibiotic or does not have any information about it (the abuse group of antibiotic) is 54.6% with 310. 2. Knowledge for advantage of antibiotic the right use group has is high in comparing with that of the abuse group (p<0.001), and also in case of pregnancy, understanding for an adverse reaction of antibiotic is high (p<0.001). The right use group has had many chances to take health education (p<0.001), and the way to buy antibiotic is very safe (p<0.001). But there is no outstanding difference for recognition of an adverse reaction of antibiotic between two groups. 3. In comparing with the abuse group, the right use group keeps well taking time of antibiotics as directions (p<0.001), and keeping rate of antibiotic dosage is high (p<0.001). Also the experiences of an adverse reaction of antibiotic is low (p<0.001). 4. In comparing with the abuse group, the right use group has high educational backgrounds (p<0.001) and many experiences of the education for health promotion (p<0.001), while there is no difference in age, sex, and economic status. 5. In comparing with the abuse group, the right use group has taken antibiotic many times (p<0.001), and there are many antibiotic takers of his/her family (p<0.01). 6. In comparing with the abuse group, the right use group has made much effort not only to check blood pressure and the pulse (p<0.05) but also for food habits (p<0.05). But there is no outstanding difference in the effort to get health information and the effort for regular exercises between these two group. 7. In comparing with the abuse group, the right use group has made an exertion in buying foodstuffs (p<0.001). But there is no big difference in efforts to keep the good attitude for physical health and mental heath, and sleeping hours between these two group.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.219-228
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• 2014

Objectives: This paper was aimed to investigate the adhesion control standards of pain relieving patch (PRP) drugs and to survey it's adverse effects on the skin of patients for safe use of PRP drugs. Methods: In this study, the related documents of PRP drugs of Korea pharmacopoeia (KP), United States pharmacopoeia (USP), Japanese Pharmacopoeia (JP), European pharmacopoeia (EP), and information web sites of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) were surveyed. Also, the past and current labeling of PRP drugs marketed in the pharmacy was investigated and compared. Results: In KP and JP, the lower limit standard for PRP's adhesion control is established, but the upper limit standard is not designated. In USP and EP, neither the lower nor upper limit standard is established. The main reasons of skin adverse effects are considered as inherent adverse reactions of the applied drugs for PRP. Another reason is involved in patient's medication mistakes related to PRP's adhesion control, respiratory depression of skin according to physical skin closure, and microbial growth, etc. Conclusion: For safe use of PRP drugs, we proposed ensured guidelines like additional instructions of pharmacist's prescription and detailed labeling systems for usage of PRP drugs applied on skin.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.32-53
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• 2015

Objectives : This research aimed to analyze studies on pediatric disease treated by kampo drug, kind of kampo drug used in children, treatment period, and the result of kampo drug treatment for children in Japan. Methods : We got 263 search result with searching word 'kampo medicine' and '小兒', 'children', '乳兒' in J-stage. We selected 34 articles among them which were related to objective of research to analyze studies by type of pediatric disease treated with kampo drug, kinds of kampo drug for each disease, treatment period and result of kampo drug treatment for children. We considered frequency of kampo drug use & pediatric disease treated with kampo drug and significance of research. Results : According to analyzed results, respiratory diseases are the most frequent diseases that are healed by kampo drug. Next sequenced diseases are skin disease. In Kind of kampo drug for pediatric disease. Goreisan and Shosaikoto (柴胡桂枝湯), Shokenchuto (小建中湯) are used frequently. Also, various disease treated with kampo drug were improved. Conclusions : Japanese Doctors consider the Kampo drug is safe and has a lot of merit compared to modern medication. Especially for symptom with unknown origin & immune diseases such as upper respiratory tract infections. Referring to clinical cases of kampo drug in Japan, we will use kampo drug for various pediatric diseases in future.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.19-22
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• 2013

Dextromethorphan and chlorpeniramine are common ingredients of over-the-counter (OTC) cough pills. They are known to be safe when used alone, however, combination with other serotonergic drugs or use of an overdose can cause serotonergic toxicity. We report on a 43-year-old male and a 57-year-old female who ingested an overdose of antitussive drugs containing dextromethorphan and chlorpeniramine. They commonly presented with altered mentality and hyperreflexia on both upper and lower extremities. After conservative therapies, they were discharged with alert mentality. These cases are meaningful in that there are few cases of serotonin syndrome with an overdose of a combination of dextromethorphan and chlorpeniramine. Careful use with medication counseling for OTC cough pills is needed in order to prevent overdose of these ingredients.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.265-271
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• 2014

Objective: This study aims to explore the perception of off-label use of medications and the provision of informed consents from the general public's perspective. Methods: The study subjects (n=291) were recruited from 7 cities in Korea through a convenience sampling method. The self-administered questionnaire with 13 items was issued and collected. The study subjects who have had a pharmaceutical job were excluded. Results: The total of 231 respondents was included. Only 23% of respondents were familiar with the concept of off-label use of medications. Eighty five percent of respondents (n=196) stated that the prescribers should explain the off-label use of a medication to their patients. The preferred method for delivering the message was the oral explanation (n=122, 53%), followed by oral explanation plus a pamphlet (n=94, 41%). The safety issue is the most concerned aspect regarding the off-label drug use, also effectiveness and insurance coverage. The majority of respondents (n=217, 94%) agreed that the prescriber should get a consent from patients before prescribing medications for off-label use. They preferred written consent to oral consent (140 vs. 77). Conclusion: This study demonstrated general publics are infrequently aware of off-label use of medications. It is important to raise public awareness of the off-label use of medications and to openly discuss its pros and cons for safe and effective drug therapy.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.47-56
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• 2011

Objective : This study reviews the articles about 'Side effect' published in the Japanese Journal of Oriental Medicine to better understand about side effects of herbal medication and to encourage clinicians, the authorities and the public to establish side effects reporting system. Method : We searched articles published in the Japanese Journal of Oriental Medicine by using keyword '副作用(Side effect)' in the CiNii. Results : Among the 118 articles collected, 14 are clinical articles about side effect of prescriptions, 13 are reports about side effect of prescriptions presented from Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, 36 are clinical articles about relief of side effects derived from taking western medicine by taking a herbal prescription, 8 are studies about the effect of a herbal prescription combined with western medicine or comparative studies between a herbal prescription and western medicine, and so on. Conclusions : Lots of articles deal with side effects of Aconiti Lateralis Radix Preparata, Bupleuri Radix and so on. When side effects occurred, removing a certain herbal drug or quitting a herbal prescription is helpful to relieve or disappear the side effects. And Side effects reporting system should be established to guide safe medication use and treatment for patients. In order to establish side effects reporting system, the standardization of herbal drugs is needed.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.195-207
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• 2023

Background: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of the pericapsular nerve group (PENG) block and intra-articular injection (IAI) of steroid-bupivacaine in the treatment of hip osteoarthritis (OA). Methods: After randomization, patients received either a PENG block or IAI under ultrasound-guidance. Clinical evaluations were recorded at baseline, day 1, and weeks 1, 4, and 8 post-intervention. The numerical rating scale (NRS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC), Harris Hip Scale (HHS) scores, pain medication use determined by a quantitative analgesic questionnaire, and patient satisfaction were evaluated. Results: Sixty patients were included in this study. NRS scores improved significantly for both groups during the follow-up compared to pretreatment (P < 0.001), with better pain scores for the PENG group (P < 0.001) at day 1 with larger effect size (Cohen's d = 4.62), and IAI group at 4 (Cohen's d = 5.15) and 8 (Cohen's d = 4.33) weeks (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in pain medication consumption (P = 0.499) and patient satisfaction (P = 0.138) between groups. Patients in the IAI group experienced significant improvement in HHS (Cohen's d = 2.16, P = 0.007) and WOMAC (Cohen's d = 1.02, P = 0.036) scores at 8 weeks compared to the PENG group. Conclusions: The ultrasound-guided PENG block provides effective pain relief which improves functionality and quality of life in hip OA patients up to 2 months. The PENG block can be considered an easy, safe, and useful alternative treatment modality for hip OA.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.22-34
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• 2023

Background: With the increasing use of narcotic analgesics, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has been operating the National Narcotics Information Management System (NIMS) since 2018 in Korea. Some studies are related to the narcotic analgesics use, but the evaluation studies of system, including NIMS users are insufficient. Objective: This study evaluated the NIMS enforcement process through in-depth interviews on the experience of using NIMS of doctors and pharmacists who prescribe or dispense opioid analgesics. Methods: Participants in this study were selected through purposeful sampling as three doctors and two pharmacists in the metropolitan area. The interviews were conducted from August 27 to October 19, 2022. Each interview was analyzed using a phenomenological method. Results: Six components of this study included "Doctors and pharmacists come across drug abusers", "They respond individually to drug abusers", "They use NIMS tailored to the needs of system managers", "They are concerned about the role of NIMS in practice settings", "They face challenges against drug abusers" and "They find a way to utilize the system to deal with drug abusers." The interviews confirmed that doctors and pharmacists used NIMS little in their work, and they only reported data. Therefore, it might be difficult for doctors and pharmacists to take measures for the safe use of narcotic analgesics. Conclusion: It is likely that adding data-feedback and medication-check function can reduce the abuse of narcotic analgesics. In the future, further studies on the evaluation of the empirical results of NIMS and review of systems in other countries will be required.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.246-253
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• 2005

This study was designed to investigate the neuroprotective effects of Guh-Poong-Chung-Sim-Hwan(GCH) on ischemia induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO) in Sprague-Dawley rats. The effects of GCH administration on the size of the brain infarct and the functional status of the rats after ischemia were examined, as well as the expression of COX-2 in acute phase. The recovery of motor functions for 7 days and the brain infarct were examined to find out the delayed effects of daily GCH-administration as well. In conclusion, we found that GCH reduced both functional deficits and brain damage in the MCAO rat model of stroke. In addition, high doses of GCH reduced COX-2 expression in the penumbra. It is well known that herbal medication including GCH is very safe for humans. Accordingly, our results support the clinical use of this GKM for the treatment of stroke and offer the possibility that a potent neuroprotective agent could be developed from Korean herbal medicines.