AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE PRESCRIBING PATTERNS OF SELECTIVE SEROTONINREUPTAKE INHIBITORS IN SOUTH-AFRICA

The primary aim of the study was to investigate the prescribing patter ns of selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) used on a chron ic basis in a defined South African patient population, and to calcula te the average prescribed daily doses (PDDs) of selected SSRIs. Prescr iption data for 2117 patients from various medical schemes who were us ing antidepressant drugs on a chronic basis were analysed retrospectiv ely. More than 70% of all the patients using antidepressants were fema les. The tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and the SSRIs accounted for approximately 75% of all the antidepressants prescribed. The average a ge of the patients using SSRIs was 48.1 years (SD = 13.4 years). Fluox etine was the most frequently prescribed SSRI, accounting for 63.3% of all SSRI prescriptions and 21.9% of all antidepressant prescriptions. The average PDDs of citalopram (23.9 mg), fluoxetine (21.7 mg) and pa roxetine (21.1 mg) were slightly higher than their defined daily doses (20 mg for all three drugs). The average PDD of fluvoxamine (93.5 mg) was lower than the DDD (150 mg), but was still within an acceptable d ose range. It was concluded that fluoxetine was clearly the drug of ch oice in treating chronic depression in this patient sample, and that t he PDDs used in the patient population studied were in agreement with local and internationally acceptable dosage ranges.