DOSE COUNTER OF EAR / EYE DROPS

DOSE COUNTER OF EAR / EYE DROPS

Dr. Mohammed Salim KT

Department of Pharmacy Practice, Al Shifa College of Pharmacy

Introduction

Medicines are essential for treatment as well as for the prophylaxis of disease. Various sets of guidelines are being adopted depending upon their efficacy and patient acceptance. Risk benefit ratio in a patient are related to the therapeutical drug concentration at the target site. Thus the concentration should be optimized.

Missing Dose: Patients especially geriatric and cognitive impaired patients are more vulnerable to dose omission. Confusion regarding the dose can be pinpointed as the major reason. In patients using inhaled bronchodilators, puff counters attached to the device had reduced such rate.

Ear and eye drops are susceptible to similar problems, however, no measure has been taken.

1)  Scratch after each dose:

Sticking the mentioned picture on to the bottle.

	Scratch each circle after each dose	M  T  W Th  F  Sa  Su

2)  Mechanical Counter

Place the device on the neck of the bottle

Press the button placed near to the number notifier

Each press will count the number of dose used

The device have provision to set – number of drops, frequency and days

Number notifier

Press button

Frequency & Day ^Opening slot

Concept

Advantages

1.      The device can be removed and can be placed on the neck of any eye/ ear drop.

2.      The physician can get a rough number of dose the patient has consumed.

3.      The dose omission can be reduced .

4.      The frequency, number of drops per frequency can be set earlier.

5.      Once the goal of frequency of the drug is achieved only then the day (Mon, Tues… etc) will change.