Medication Safety

At the first GC meeting, we have decided to formally form a Medication Safety Interest Group. We hope that this group could meet regularly, each one bringing significant issues to the group for sharing and discussion, problem identification and eventually formulating actions to propose to the authorities, drug companies and our staff.

Cravit used to be marketed in 100mg tablet. Then the 250mg tablet became available. However the dosage recommendations for the two strengths are quite different.

For the 100mg packing, the dosage recommendation ranges from 100mg to 200mg, given 2 to 3 times a day, depending on the types of infection.

On the outer box of Zanidip (Lercanidipine) tablet, the instruction reads "1 tablet after breakfast" in both English and Chinese.

But in the package insert of this calcium channel blocker, it states that Zanidip "should be taken before meals."

A member reported to us a potential risk concerning Spiriva capsule for inhalation.

Spiriva (Tiotropium) comes in a strip packed capsules to be used for inhalation with the HandiHaler device.

The outer packing indicate, in small prints, that the capsule is to be used "Only for inhalation with HandiHaler device".

The wordings of "Not to be swallowed" are printed in both English and Chinese.


But when the capsules are dispensed without the package, there is no similar warning on the strip pack: