Background: In 1997 a program was set up to improve the use of ticlopidine. In the present study we assess whether this objective was achieved.
Patients and methods: We carried out a pharmacy-based cross-sectional study.
Results: Out of 346 patients interviewed, 56% presented an off-label indication for ticlopidine. In 23% of patients the daily dose used was lower or higher than the recommended. Only 28% patients had the fortnightly blood monitoring performed at the time of interview.
Conclusions: The use of ticlopidine in Spain is not consistent with the summary of product characteristics and the program set up to improve it did not achieve a satisfactory result.