Impact of the CSM advice on thioridazine on general practitioner prescribing behaviour in Leeds: time series analysis
Authors: Wright N.M.J.1; Roberts A.J.2; Allgar V.L.3; Tompkins C.N.E.4; Greenwood D.C.5; Laurence G.6
Source: British Journal of General Practice, Volume 54, Number 502, May 2004 , pp. 370-373(4)
Publisher: Royal College of General Practitioners
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Abstract:
In December 2000, the Committee for Safety of Medicines (CSM) advised that thioridazine may prolong QT intervals risking arrhythmias. We investigated the impact on general practitioner prescribing of thioridazine using a time series analysis. Numbers of items and costs of antipsychotics and benzodiazepines prescribed in Leeds from May 1999 until April 2002 were collated. Post-advice, thioridazine prescriptions dropped by 810 items per month (95% confidence interval = 420 to 1200, P < 0.001) but others increased slightly in response. Costs mimicked these changes. Fresh criteria are proposed for appraising the quality of evidence needed to inform future urgent facsimile transmissions.Keywords: GENERAL PRACTITIONER PRESCRIBING; LONG QT SYNDROME; PRESCRIBING ADVICE; PRIMARY HEALTH CARE; PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGS; TELEFACSIMILE
Document Type: Short communication
Affiliations: 1: GP Consultant in Substance Misuse, Centre for Research in Primary Care, Leeds 2: Principal General Practitioner, Bellbrooke Surgery, Leeds 3: Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Research in Primary Care, Leeds 4: Research Assistant, NFA Health Centre for Homeless People, Leeds 5: Lecturer in Medical Statistics, Biostatistics Unit, University of Leeds 6: Pharmaceutical Adviser, East Leeds PCT
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