Amitriptyline prescribing in public sector healthcare facilities in the Western Cape, South Africa

Loading...
Thumbnail Image

Date

2020

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Public Library of Science

Abstract

Inappropriate medication use is a major patient safety concern, especially for the elderly population. Amitriptyline is widely used in primary care in South Africa and a cross-sectional study found that amitriptyline was prescribed potentially inappropriately in 6.5% of elderly patients. An analysis of prescriptions from the Chronic Dispensing Unit in the Western Cape revealed that amitriptyline was one of the most common medicines prescribed without a suitable diagnosis listed on the prescription.

Description

Keywords

South Africa, Healthcare facilities, Amitriptyline, Inappropriate prescribing, Elderly patients

Citation

Coetzee, R. et al. (2020). Amitriptyline prescribing in public sector healthcare facilities in the Western Cape, South Africa. PLoS ONE ,15(4),e0231675