Prescription numbers (FOI)

​Request

Please provide the annual GP medication prescription item numbers and patient numbers around various drugs for:

Chronic Pain (inclusive of opioids):

• Buprenorphine patches

• Fentanyl patches

• Oxycodone caps

• Oxycodone tabs + MR tabs

• Oxycodone+naloxone (Targinact)

• Tramadol caps + MR caps

• Pregabalin

• Gabapentin (for pain)

Intractable nausea and vomiting

• Ondansetron

Spasticity

• Baclofen

• Benzos: eg Diazepam, Clonazepam

Anxiety

• SSRIs (eg sertraline, fluoxetine)

• SNRIs (eg venlafaxine, duloxetine)

• Pregabalin

• Benzos: eg Diazepam, Lorazepam

Sleeping

• Zolpidem

• Zopiclone

Response

The table in the PDF document below shows the total number of prescription items dispensed under the Health Insurance Fund in the 12-month period from January to December 2019. Information is not held on the number of patients taking these medicines. The reason for the use of these medicines is also not held so it is not possible to distinguish prescriptions issued for chronic pain, for example, from those issued for epilepsy or depression.

Prescription items dispensed