Alcohol pharmacotherapy dispensing trends in Australia between 2006 and 2023.

ABSTRACT:

Aims

This study aimed to investigate acamprosate and naltrexone dispensing patterns in Australia.

Methods

A 10% representative sample of medications subsidized by the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) was used to identify individuals who were dispensed naltrexone or acamprosate between January 2006 and December 2023. Data were used to examine concurrent dispensing, medication switching and treatment episode length, as well as changes in prevalence and incidence over time.

Results

During the study, we identified 22 745 individuals with a total of 117 548 dispensed prescriptions (45.3% naltrexone, 43.0% acamprosate, and 11.7% concurrent dispensing). Alcohol pharmacotherapy dispensing occurred in 1354 per 100 000 individuals. It is estimated that 2.9% of in

SUBMITTER: Quintrell E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11379491 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature