Table 3 Most common potentially inappropriate prescriptions (PIPs) among older patients receiving medication in long-term care
From: Potentially inappropriate prescriptions for older patients in long-term care
Criteria | Number of patients | Proportion of all patients prescribed a medication (%) (N = 2,481) |
|---|---|---|
Potentially inappropriate medication | 365 | 14.7 |
   Long-acting benzodiazepines | 138 | 5.6 |
   Preparations including an antihistaminic | 112 | 4.5 |
   Flurazepam | 54 | 2.2 |
   Doxepin | 31 | 1.3 |
   Amitryptiline | 27 | 1.1 |
   Propanolol | 27 | 1.1 |
   Chloral hydrate | 22 | 0.9 |
Potentially inappropriate duration | 585 | 23.6 |
   Intermediate and short-acting benzodiazepines at bedtime for more than one month | 567 | 22.9 |
   Oxazepam at bedtime for more than one month | 313 | 12.6 |
Potentially inappropriate dosage | 239 | 9.6 |
   Haloperidol > 3 mg daily | 129 | 5.2 |
   Thioridazine > 30 mg daily | 53 | 2.1 |
   Lorazepam > 3 mg daily | 34 | 1.4 |
Potential drug-drug interaction | 842 | 33.9 |
   Repeat* prescription of antipsychotics | 409 | 16.5 |
   Repeat* prescription of benzodiazepine | 369 | 14.9 |
   Clonazepam and other benzodiazepine | 46 | 1.9 |
   Benzodiazepine and hypnotic or sedative | 93 | 3.8 |
   Repeat* prescription of calcium channel blockers | 77 | 3.1 |
   Repeat* prescription of tricyclic antidepressants | 37 | 1.5 |
   Repeat* prescription of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors | 19 | 0.8 |
   Repeat* prescription of β-blockers | 11 | 0.4 |
   Repeat* prescription of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (except acetylsalicylic acid) | 10 | 0.4 |
   Repeat* prescription of barbiturate | 10 | 0.4 |
Total potential inappropriate prescriptions** | 1,358 | 54.7 |