§ 1988. Mr. FearnTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will provide a breakdown of the number of prescriptions issued for each individual benzodiazepine by community pharmacists during(a) 1986, (b) 1987 and (c)
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe information requested is as follows:122W
Number of Prescriptions 1986–88 (millions) Great Britain Benzodiazepines 1986 1987 1988 Temazepam 7.2 7.8 7.7 Nitrazepam 5.5 5.2 4.6 Diazepam 5.2 5.1 4.5 Triazolam 2.0 2.2 2.2 Lorazepam 3.1 2.9 2.1 Chlordiazepoxide 1.1 1.0 0.9 Oxazepam 0.8 0.8 0.6 Lormetazepam 0.2 0.2 0.2 Loprazolam 0.1 0.1 0.2 Clonazepam 0.1 0.1 0.1 Clobazam 0.0 0.0 0.1 Totals 25.3 25.5 23.2 These estimates are based on a sample of prescriptions of approximately one in 200 in England and Wales and one in 100 in Scotland which were dispensed by chemists and appliance contractors.
§ Mr. FearnTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has given to family practitioner committees and health authorities to ensure that doctors do not prescribe benzodiazepines for longer periods than those recommended by the Committee on Safety of Medicines.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe prescribing of these drugs and the management of patients taking them are professional matters. Doctors already have advice about the use of benzodiazepines from the Committee on Safety of Medicines, the Royal Colleges of Physicians, Psychiatrists and General Practitioners, the British Medical Association and the British National Formulary. We support that advice.