| Most frequent drug class prescribed | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BNF chapter | Patients prescribed medicine, n (%) | Medications prescribed, mean (SD) | First (%) | Second (%) | Third (%) | Fourth (%) | Fifth (%) |
| 1. Gastrointestinal System | 2991 (66.9) | 1.63 (0.84) | Osmotic laxatives (36.3) | Proton pump inhibitors(35.8) | Stimulant laxatives (17.7) | H2 receptor agonists (5.2) | Compound alginates and proprietary antacids (3.9) |
| 2. Cardiovascular System | 2883 (64.5) | 2.32 (1.3) | Statins (27.3) | Loop diuretics (20.6) | Aspirin (17.8) | Beta-adrenoceptor blocking drugs (17.5) | Clopidogrel (14.4) |
| 3. Respiratory System | 684 (15.3) | 1.79 (1.15) | Short acting beta2 adrenoceptor agonists (6.1) | Inhaled corticosteroids (5.6) | Non-sedating antihistamines (4.9) | Antimuscarinic bronchodilators (3.3) | Sedating antihistamines (1.7) |
| 4. Central Nervous System | 3687 (82.5) | 2.39 (1.37) | Paracetamol (47.2) | Drugs for dementia (26.4) | SSRI antidepressants (19.0) | Other antidepressants (16.7) | Opioid analgesics (16.3) |
| 5. Infections | 1402 (31.4) | 1.41 (0.74) | Broad spectrum penicillins (11.4) | Sulfonamides and trimethoprim (8.1) | Nitrofurantoin (6.2) | Penicillinase-resistant penicillins (4.2) | Tetracyclines (4.1) |
| 6. Endocrine System | 1658 (37.1) | 1.26 (0.56) | Thyroid hormones (19.2) | Bisphosphonates and drugs affecting bone metabolism (10.1) | Biguanides (5.3) | Treatment corticosteroids (3.4) | Male sex hormones and antagonists (3.3) |
| 7. Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Urinary-Tract Disorders | 404 (9.0) | 1.07 (0.27) | Drugs for urinary frequency, enuresis, incontinence (5.3) | Drugs for urinary retention (3.4) | Vaginal and vulval infections (0.5) | Topical hormone replacement therapy(0.4) | Drugs used in urological pain (0.1) |
| 8. Malignant Disease and Immunosuppression | 83 (1.9) | 1 (0) | Hormone antagonists (1.5) | Azathioprine (0.2) | Other antineoplastic (0.1) | Mycophenolate (<0.1) | Ciclosporin (<0.1) |
| 9. Nutrition and Blood | 2011 (45.0) | 1.98 (0.78) | Vitamin D (35.6) | Oral iron (10.2) | Drugs used in megaloblastic anaemias (9.9) | Fluoride (1.1) | Calcium supplements (0.5) |
| 10. Musculoskeletal and Joint Diseases | 692 (15.5) | 1.09 (0.31) | Rubefacients, topical NSAIDs, capsaicin, and poultices (11.7) | Gout and cytotoxic induced hyperuricaemia (2.4) | Skeletal muscle relaxants(1.5) | Methotrexate (0.4) | Nonselective NSAIDs (0.4) |
| 11. Eye | 595 (13.3) | 1.46 (0.82) | Tear deficiency, ocular lubricants and astringents (7.6) | Glaucoma: prostaglandinanalogues (3.8) | Antibacterial eye preparations (2.2) | Glaucoma: other (1.4) | Glaucoma: beta-blockers (0.9) |
| 12. Ear, Nose and Oropharynx | 133 (3.0) | 1.06 (0.24) | Nasal allergy, topical antihistamines and cromoglicate (1.6) | Drugs for oral ulceration and inflammation (0.5) | Otitis externa (0.3) | Oropharyngeal anti-infective drugs (0.3) | Topical nasal decongestants (0.2) |
| 13. Skin | 1747 (39.1) | 1.65 (0.97) | Emollients (23.1) | Barrier preparations (15.8) | Topical corticosteroids (9.0) | Antifungal skin preparations (2.6) | Shampoos and other preparations for scalp and/or hair (1.7) |
BNF = British National Formulary. SD = standard deviation. SSRI = selective-serotonin reuptake inhibitors. NSAIDs = non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.