Changes in prescribing patterns of oral hypoglycaemics in elderly patients, over a period of 10 years: matching with general practitioners' perceptions of their own prescribing.

Author(s): Trewin VF, Lawrence CJ, Veitch GB, Pearce V

Affiliation(s): Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital (Heavitree), U.K.

Publication date & source: 1996-08, J Clin Pharm Ther., 21(4):243-5.

Publication type:

A 10-year hospital admissions database had demonstrated a steep decline in the prescribing of chlorpropamide, and to a lesser degree, of glibenclamide, with tolbutamide, metformin and the most recently introduced oral hypoglycaemic, gliclazide, maintaining relatively uniform levels. Glipizide was the most popular emerging agent. Interviews with 20 general practitioners (GPs) revealed that 55% had a definite first choice agent with a priority order of gliclazide, tolbutamide and glibenclamide. For the remaining GPs without a sole preference, gliclazide (30%), glipizide (30%) and glibenclamide (20%) featured as their most commonly prescribed agents.