Impact of the CSM advice on thioridazine on general practitioner prescribing behaviour in Leeds: time series analysis

[摘要] 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.

[学科分类] 卫生学

[关键词] general practitioner prescribing;long QT syndrome;prescribing advice;primary health care;psychotropic drugs;telefacsimile