Trends in consumption of opioid analgesics in Slovak Republic during 1998–2002

Abstract

Despite recent increases, the consumption of opioid analgesics in the Slovak republic remains low. We have tried to present an overall picture of prescription of opioid analgesics in Slovakia and to focus attention on this topic.

An overview of the patterns of prescription opioid use, costs and related harms in Australia

“…We note the significant upward trend in number of dispensings and cost did not appear to be impacted on by the introduction of the lozenge, meaning that the patch is likely to be the biggest contributor to volume and cost. Other jurisdictions have also reported the transdermal patch to be the primary driver of increased fentanyl use .…”

Utilización de medicamentos en España y en Europa

“…Durante el mismo periodo, el coste total de este grupo terapéutico se multiplica por 36,8 51,52 . En 2001, España y la República Eslovaca coincidían en el consumo de morfina (0,17 DHD) y se situaban por debajo del consumo de Dinamarca y Austria (1,80 y 1,61 DHD, respectivamente) 51,53 . Un estudio desglosó el consumo en 2003 de 4 analgésicos opioides (codeína, tramadol, fentanilo y morfina) en 9 países europeos entre los que se encontraba España 54 .…”

Choosing the unit of measurement counts: The use of oral morphine equivalents in studies of opioid consumption is a useful addition to defined daily doses

“…6 Data on drug consumption expressed in DDDs are readily available from many countries, especially in Europe, and many recent studies have used DDD to describe opioid consumption. 1,2,5,[7][8][9] However, DDD may not be the best choice of measurement unit in opioid consumption studies, since the DDDs for the different opioids do not reflect their relative clinical potencies in daily use. 10,11 Moreover, since the pattern of opioid use may vary between and within countries, a relative over-or underestimation of opioid utilization comparisons may result.…”