Proton pump inhibitors are widely prescribed for unlicensed non-specific abdominal symptoms

Proton pump inhibitors are widely prescribed for unlicensed non-specific abdominal symptoms

There has been much speculation about the reasons behind the substantial rise in prescribing of proton pump inhibitors; inparticular, their use for minor symptoms. Bashford et al (p 452)used the General Practitioner Research Database for the formerWest Midlands region to show that, between 1991 and 1995, overallprescribing of these drugs rose 10-fold, but unlicensed use remainedhigh, at 46% in 1995. These changes in prescribing resulted inincreases in the proportion of new prescriptions for non-specificabdominal symptoms and ulcer disease and a decrease for gastro-oesophagealreflux disease. The authors also analysed prescribing analysesand cost (PACT) data and found similar prescribing trends to thoserecorded with the General Practitioner ResearchDatabase.

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Why are patients prescribed proton pump inhibitors? Retrospective analysis of link between morbidity and prescribing in the General Practice Research Database: James N R Bashford, Jeff Norwood, and Stephen R Chapman
BMJ 1998 317: 452-456. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]