Who gets dipyrone (metamizole) in Germany? Prescribing by age, sex and region

Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics
Falk HoffmannG Schmiemann

Abstract

Metamizole (dipyrone) is an analgesic that has been the focus of considerable controversy regarding its safety. Because of potentially life-threatening blood disorders such as agranulocytosis, it has been withdrawn in many countries but not in Germany, where prescribing even increased over recent years. We aimed to evaluate prescribing of metamizole in Germany with respect to age, sex and regional variations. Using data of a statutory health insurance, we analysed a cohort of 1·7 million persons who were insured at least 1 day in each quarter of 2009. Outcome of interest was the outpatient prescription prevalence, for example the proportion of persons receiving at least one prescription of metamizole. A total of 6·8% received metamizole with a higher prescribing prevalence in females (7·8% vs. 6·0%). The prevalence increased with age up to 26·7% in persons ≥85 years (men: 21·1%; and women: 30·4%). We found large regional variations with higher prevalences in the northern part of Germany. Most of the prescriptions were issued by general practitioners (78·9%). 58·3% were liquid oral formulations with considerable regional variations ranging between 32·3% in Mecklenburg-West Pomerania and 67·3% in North Rhine-Westphalia. Overall, ...Continue Reading

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Citations

Jan 11, 2016·Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety·Falk Hoffmann, Guido Schmiemann
Jul 8, 2016·Pain Management·Francesca La FrenaisElizabeth L Sampson
Aug 27, 2019·Basic & Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology·Falk HoffmannKathrin Jobski
Jun 4, 2020·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·Falk HoffmannKathrin Jobski
Jul 11, 2020·European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology·Thi Ngoc Mai NguyenBen Schöttker
Dec 19, 2020·Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics·Fabio BachmannStephan Krähenbühl

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