8

NSAID prescription is unpredictable ' ... Rheumatologists perceive different NSAIDs as

being indicated for different groups of patients and . .. such perception may vary with place and/or time.'

Substantial differences in the pattern of NSAID prescriptions or recommendations at 2 UK hospitals could invalidate postmarketing surveillance of this class of drugs. 80% of 140 new prescriptions in Leeds were for diclofenac (n = 41), indomethacin (33), ibuprofen (20) and naproxen (19) whereas, in Belfast, flurbiprofen (30), nabumetone (15), ibuprofen (12) and diclofenac (10) accounted for 86% of the 77 new prescriptions.

Patients in Leeds with pre-existing upper gastrointestinal disorders were significantly more likely to receive diclofenac than those in Belfast, who were significantly more likely to receive nabumetone or ibuprofen. Leeds patients who received indomethacin were more likely to be young men with seronegative arthritides. Suppositories were prescribed for 8% of patients in Leeds whereas the Belfast unit prescribed no suppositories. Data from Leeds and Belfast were gathered I year apart, whieh may partially account for these differences. Pullar T . Murphy B. Taggart A. Wright V. Pallerns of out· patients non·steroidal anti·innammatory drug prescribing in two teaching hospital rheumatology units - implications for post·marketing ,unciliancc. Journal of ClinICal Pharmacy and Therapeutics IS: 267· 212. Aug 1990

13 Oct 1990 INPHARMA@ ISSN 0156-170J/ 90/ 1013-0008/ 0$01.00/ 0 . ) Adis I"ter"ational Ltd