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Eur. J. Clin. Pharmacol. · Nov 1999
Opioid consumption in Spain--the significance of a regulatory measure.
- J García del Pozo, A Carvajal, A M Rueda de Castro, M I Cano del Pozo, and L H Martín Arias.
- Instituto de Farmacoepidemiología, Universidad de Valladolid, C/Ramón y Cajal, Spain.
- Eur. J. Clin. Pharmacol. 1999 Nov 1; 55 (9): 681-3.
ObjectiveTo investigate the impact of new regulatory measures on opioid consumption in Spain during the period 1985-1998.MethodsA search in the ECOM (Especialidades Consumo de Medicamentos) database of the Ministry of Health was made for the 1985-1998 period. This database contains information about drug preparations prescribed in primary care in the National Health System in Spain.ResultsSince 1985-1998, the overall opioid consumption has increased tenfold, from 94.7 DDD (defined daily dose) per million inhabitants per day to more than 1000 DDD. For the five drugs that require a special prescription form (morphine, methadone, pethidine, tilidine and fentanyl), the consumption has increased 13.5-fold.ConclusionA huge increase in opioid consumption has occurred. In this increase, changes in supply and, to a lesser extent, regulatory measures have played an important role.
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