Stereoisomeric pharmacovigilance and racemic drugs in hospital formularies

Abstract

The rapid emergence of published data regarding drug enantiomers should be reflected in the use of racemic drugs in the clinical setting. The Department of Pharmacy, University of Malta, becoming aware of the problems created by the unknowledgeable use of racemic drugs has conducted two studies. The first study data focused on quantifying the number of chiral drugs in the Maltese National Formulary, being administered as racemic mixtures, in order to provide a better basis for purchase specifications when procuring drugs. The second study analyzed attitudes by physicians towards drug chirality.