Trends in Non-prescription Drug Recalls in Japan

• Published in: YAKUGAKU ZASSHI Vol. 136; no. 9; pp. 1307 - 1312
• Main Authors: Yamamoto, Chikoto, Ishida, Takuya, Osawa, Takashi, Naito, Takafumi, Kawakami, Junichi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Japan The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan 2016
• Subjects: Drug Industry; drug recall; Drug Recalls - statistics & numerical data; Drug Recalls - trends; drug supply; Government Agencies; Japan; Legislation, Drug; non-prescription drug; Nonprescription Drugs - standards; OTC; Self Medication; Time Factors
• ISSN: 0031-6903; 1347-5231
• DOI: 10.1248/yakushi.15-00287

Recalls of non-prescription drugs can contribute to preventing harm to human health, however, they also interrupt the supply of medicines to the market. The aim of the present study was to investigate the trends in non-prescription drug recalls in Japan. Class I, II, and III recalls reported from April 2009 to March 2014 were obtained from the websites of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency. Each drug recall was classified according to year, dosage form, therapeutic category, and reasons for the recall. The trends over the 5 year period were assessed for each class. A total of 220 recalls were reported in the 5-year study period. The numbers of drug recalls were 21, 16, 80, 58, and 45 in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013, respectively. The drugs recalled consisted of 177 internal medications, 35 topical agents, and 8 others. Drug recalls were observed in 12 therapeutic categories of drug effects. The largest number of recalls was for Chinese herbal medicines and crude drugs. Of all the drug recalls in 2011, Chinese herbal medicines and crude drugs produced by one manufacturer accounted for 84%. Slightly more than half (54%) of drug recalls were due to a violation of the regulations. One manufacturer recalled many drugs because of non-compliance with the standard regulations for manufacturing drugs after 2011. In conclusion, non-prescription drug recalls can occur for any drug regardless of the dosage form and therapeutic category.