Article
Top 10 drugs
- Aust Prescr 1996;19:69
- 1 January 1996
- DOI: 10.18773/austprescr.1996.016
ISSUE 1 JANUARY
Table 1
Table 1 shows the top 10 drugs dispensed in the Australian community by DDDs/1000 population/day, which adjusts for the quantity dispensed per prescription. This DDD/1000/day information is presented both as a total and split between subsidised (PBS/RPBS) and non-subsidised (Guild survey) use.
| Top 10 drugs by defined daily dose/thousand population/day 1994 | |||
| Drug | PBS/RPBS | Guild survey | Total community use |
| 1. salbutamol | 22.319 | 6.800 | 29.122 |
| 2. frusemide | 20.385 | 2.246 | 22.631 |
| 3. enalapril* | 20.577 | 0.006 | 20.583 |
| 4. ranitidine | 13.773 | 0.066 | 13.839 |
| 5. felodipine* | 12.043 | 0.028 | 12.071 |
| 6. budesonide | 11.891 | 0.003 | 11.894 |
| 7. captopril | 11.692 | 0.004 | 11.696 |
| 8. oestrogens conjugated | 5.157 | 6.168 | 11.325 |
| 9. beclomethasone dipropionate | 10.784 | 0.101 | 10.885 |
| 10. medroxyprogesterone | 6.019 | 4.819 | 10.838 |
* Recent change in DDD
The changes in the composition and order within the top 10 using DDDs/1000/day, when compared with the 1993 figures, are: In - felodipine Out - naproxen Up - enalapril, ranitidine Down - captopril, budesonide, beclomethasone dipropionate, medroxyprogesterone
Table 2
Table 2 shows the top 10 drugs dispensed in the Australian community ranked by prescription count.
| Top 10 drugs by prescription counts 1994 | |||
| Drug | PBS/RPBS | Guild survey | Total community use |
| 1. amoxycillin | 2,845,799 | 3,019,577 | 5,865,376 |
| 2. salbutamol | 3,438,948 | 959,627 | 4,398,575 |
| 3. paracetamol | 4,042,895 | 94,130 | 4,137,025 |
| 4. codeine with paracetamol | 2,553,630 | 1,101,783 | 3,655,413 |
| 5. amoxycillin with clavulanic acid | 2,522,844 | 893,419 | 3,416,263 |
| 6. enalapril | 3,124,673 | 2,294 | 3,126,967 |
| 7. temazepam | 2,452,930 | 579,285 | 3,032,215 |
| 8. ranitidine | 2,948,808 | 19,877 | 2,968,685 |
| 9. betamethasone | 1,743,169 | 1,048,148 | 2,791,317 |
| 10. doxycycline | 1,297,904 | 1,458,273 | 2,756,177 |
In ranitidine Out atenolol Up betamethasone Down doxycycline
Table 3
Table 3 ranks the top 10 drugs by cost to government i.e. subsidised prescriptions only.
| Top 10 drugs by cost to government 1994 | |||
| Drug |
PBS/RPBS |
PBS/RPBS scripts | Cost to government ($A) |
| 1. simvastatin | 8.905 | 2,065,577 | 94,975,884 |
| 2. ranitidine | 13.773 | 2,948,808 | 82,319,267 |
| 3. enalapril | 20.577 | 3,124,673 | 77,259,136 |
| 4. captopril | 11.692 | 1,313,354 | 58,678,853 |
| 5. omeprazole | 2.853 | 597,389 | 55,982,711 |
| 6. ipratropium bromide | 9.603 | 1,054,801 | 45,062,136 |
| 7. salbutamol | 22.319 | 3,438,948 | 43,340,356 |
| 8. fluoxetine | 3.202 | 640,723 | 34,728,186 |
| 9. felodipine | 12.043 | 1,721,090 | 34,376,463 |
| 10.budesonide | 11.891 | 1,056,225 | 31,908,565 |
In - omeprazole, fluoxetine Out - glyceryl trinitrate, beclomethasone dipropionate Up - ranitidine Down - enalapril, salbutamol, felodipine, budesonide
