Abstract: Objective To conduct a Pareto chart analysis of 705 problematic prescriptions by clinicians in the Department of Neurology in order to provide reference for clinical practice. Methods Prescriptions pre-audited in the Department of Neurology between March 1, 2017 and February 31, 2018 were collected and analyzed. The types of problems, potential risks and results of interventions were recorded. Results A total pf 10 367 prescriptions for 811 patients were reviewed, 705 of which were found to be problematic, including 511 cases of inappropriate medication methods, 66 cases of wrong indications, and 46 cases of insufficient or excessive dosage. In terms of severity, 538 cases (76.31%) were classified as Class I with a low risk of adverse drug events (ADE), 135 cases (19.15%) as Class II with a medium risk of ADE, 26 cases (3.69%) as Class III with much chance of ADE, and 6 cases (0.85%) as class IV that might cause serious ADE. Physicians took the advice of pharmacists in 541 of these cases (76.74%). Conclusion There are various medications for inpatients in a neurology department, so inappropriate medication instructions are likely. Pre-audition of prescriptions by clinical pharmacists can help identify potential risks of medication. Cooperation between physicians and pharmacists can improve the medication safety of patients.

Key words: neurology, clinical pharmacist, pre-audition of medication instructions, problematic prescriptions