Dispensing of psychotropic drugs to adults in community pharmacies in Latvia.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate outpatient utilization of psychotropic drugs before and after pharmaceutical reform in Latvia.


METHODS
Data concerning prescribing and dispensing of psychotropic drugs were collected in six community pharmacies in the region of Latgale of Latvia.


METHODS
An exploratory analysis of prescription data provided by six community pharmacies from 2004 to 2007. Drugs included in the study were classified according to an Anatomical-Therapeutic-Chemical (ATC) drug classification system, and ATC data were used to calculate defined daily doses (DDD) per 1,000 inhabitants. The National SSK-10 classification was used for analysis of codes of disease diagnosis.


METHODS
Identification of the most often prescribed psychotropic drug and prescribing physician, patient characterization by age and gender, and analysis of codes of diseases.


RESULTS
Benzodiazepines and benzodiazepine-related drugs were mainly prescribed in outpatient practice. Diazepam was the most frequently prescribed benzodiazepine-12 DDD/1,000/day. The drugs were prescribed mainly by family physicians (in 66% of cases). Female residents bought more psychotropic drugs than males. In addition, residents of cities bought little more drugs than those living outside urban areas. Accordingly to the recorded disease codes, the codes for neurotic and behavioral disorders dominated.


CONCLUSIONS
The introduction of new norms neither increased nor decreased the number of psychotropic drug prescriptions filled. The most often prescribed psychotropic drugs over 4-year period were benzodiazepines and their derivates. Disease codes on the prescriptions fully justified a reason for psychotropic drug use.
Vrublevska
Kristine
K
Faculty of Medicine of University of Latvia, Sarlotes Str. 1a, Riga, LV 1001, Latvia.
Rukmane
Jurita
J
Burmistrs
Rihards
R
Sipols
Janis
J
Muceniece
Ruta
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003157:Community Pharmacy Services; D003975:Diazepam / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007844:Latvia; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009497:Neurotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000592:standards*; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012737:Sex Factors; D014505:Urban Population; D055815:Young Adult
D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D003975:Diazepam