MARKET PENETRATION OF NEW DRUGS IN ONE UNITED-KINGDOM REGION - IMPLICATIONS FOR GENERAL-PRACTITIONERS AND ADMINISTRATORS

Objective-To determine the use of new drugs in one United Kingdom regi on. Design-Examination of data on prescribing of angiotensin convertin g enzyme inhibitors, new broad spectrum antibiotics, and H-2 receptor antagonists. Calculation of number of defined daily doses prescribed e ach month. Setting-All general practices in Northern Ireland. Main out come measures-Drug use index and market share of each drug. Results-Du ring 1988-91 prescribing of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors i ncreased by 126%, of H-2 receptor antagonists by 46%, and of new antib iotics by 207%. The first drug on the market usually retained the larg est market share. Use of oral antibiotics increased threefold irrespec tive of the reporting policy of the general practitioners' local labor atory. Conclusions-The increase in prescribing of these drugs seems to be greater than can be accounted for by an increase in patients with specific indications for these drugs. This suggests that the professio n has not instituted effective checks to ensure that the legitimate pr omotion of new products does not lead to inappropriate and wasteful us e.