§ Mr. FearnTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what alternatives to benzodiazepine sleeping pills are currently being provided in national health service hospitals.
§ Mr. DorrellThe current British national formulary lists seven drugs or chemical groups which are available as alternatives to benzodiazepine hypnotics.
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§ Mr. FearnTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence he has that pharmaceutical companies are providing incentives to national health service doctors to continue supplying benzodiazepines to patients.
§ Mr. DorrellWe have no such evidence.
§ Mr. FearnTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department is currently doing to ensure that no new patient becomes addicted to benzodiazepines.
§ Mr. DorrellDoctors already have advice about the use of these drugs and are aware of the need to prescribe them carefully. The number of prescriptions for benzodiazepines dispensed by community pharmacists in Great Britain in 1989 was approximately 9 per cent. smaller than in 1988.
§ Mr. FearnTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many prescriptions for each individual benzodiazepine were issued by community pharmacists during 1989.
§ Mr. DorrellThe information requested is as follows:
Benzodiazepines Great Britain: 1989 Drug group Prescriptions (millions) Temazepam 7.1 Nitrazepam 4.2 Diazepam 4.1 Triazolam 2.1 Lorazepam 1.7 Chlordiazepoxide 0.8 Oxazepam 0.5 Lormetazepam 0.2 Loprazolam 0.2 Clonazepam 0.1 Clobazam 0.1 Totals 22.1 These estimates are based on a sample of prescriptions of approximately 1 in 200 in England and Wales and 1 in 100 in Scotland which were dispensed by community pharmacists.