[Changes in the pattern of opioid analgesic consumption in Spain].
BACKGROUND
Data from different sources have proved an infrautilization of opioid analgesics in Spain. A descriptive study has been conducted in order to know the utilization of these drugs and changes in the pattern of use in the last few years.


METHODS
To know the consume of narcotic analgesic drugs, N02A group of the Anatomic Therapeutic Classification, a search was developed in the ECOM database from the Spanish Ministry of Health. This database contains information of drug preparations prescribed throughout the National Health Care System.


RESULTS
The consumption of opioid analgesics in Spain has been multiplied by 5.2 during this period. It has increased from 94.7 defined daily dose per 1,000,000 inhabitants in 1985 to 489.4 in 1994. The most consumed drug in 1994 was dihydrocodeine, followed by tramadol. The number of defined daily dose per inhabitant and day of parenteral administration have decreased during the last years.


CONCLUSIONS
Availability of new analgesic opioid drugs with better pharmacokinetic profiles has contributed to an increase of their consume in Spain.
Carvajal
A
A
Centro Regional de Farmacovigilancia, Universidad de Valladolid.
García del Pozo
J
J
Martín Arias
L H
LH
Martín de Diego
I
I
Rueda
A M
AM
Caro-Patón
T
T
Alvarez Requejo
A
A
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000285:Administration, Rectal; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002047:Buprenorphine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003061:Codeine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019992:Databases as Topic; D011431:Dextropropoxyphene / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D016014:Linear Models; D008614:Meperidine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009020:Morphine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010423:Pentazocine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013030:Spain; D013993:Tilidine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014147:Tramadol / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D014147:Tramadol; D002047:Buprenorphine; D009020:Morphine; D008614:Meperidine; D013993:Tilidine; C014481:dihydrocodeine; D010423:Pentazocine; D011431:Dextropropoxyphene; D008691:Methadone; D003061:Codeine