Table 1.

Medication Appropriateness Index8

Question	Score(a)
1. Is there an indication for the drug?	3
2. Is the medication effective for the condition?	3
3. Is the dosage correct?	2
4. Are the directions correct?	2
5. Are the directions practical?	2
6. Are there clinically significant drug-drug interactions?	2
7. Are there clinically significant drug-disease/condition interactions?	1
8. Is there unnecessary duplication with other drug(s)?	1
9. Is the duration of therapy acceptable?	1
10. Is this drug the least expensive alternative compared with others of equal utility?	1
Maximal score of inappropriateness	18
aA weight of three is given for indication and effectiveness. A weight of two is assigned to dosage, correct directions, practical directions and drug-drug interactions. A weight of one is assigned to drug-disease interactions, expense, duplication and duration.9 These results in a total combined score of 0 to 18 (0 meaning the drug is appropriate and 18 representing maximal inappropriateness).