§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what guidance his Department issues to the medical profession for prescribing neuroleptic drugs; and if he will make a statement; [14654]
(2) if he will list the neuroleptic drugs currently available on prescription; [14655]
(3) if he will estimate (a) how many and (b) what percentage of people suffering from (i) Alzheimer's disease, (ii) schizophrenia and (iii) other psychotic diseases are currently prescribed neuroleptic drugs; and if he will make a statement. [14660]
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§ Mr. MaloneGuidance on prescribing issues, including on neuroleptics, is available to general practitioners from a variety of sources. Publications funded by the Department include the British National Formulary, which is regularly updated and provides advice for all doctors on the choice of suitable drugs, and the "MeReC Bulletin", which provides prescribing advice to all general practitioners. Copies of both documents are available in the Library.
The neuroleptic drugs—antipsychotic and antipsychotic depot injections—currently licensed and available on prescription in the United Kingdom are listed in sections 4.2.1 and 4.2.2 in the BNF. However, information on the number of patients being prescribed these drugs is not available centrally.
§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what warnings his Department currently requires on the packaging of neuroleptic drugs; and if he will make a statement. [14656]
§ Mr. MaloneAll medicines are labelled to show any appropriate warnings. There are no statutory warnings relating specifically to neuroleptic drugs. Products information for doctors and patients produced by the manufacturer and authorised by the Medicines Control Agency includes extensive information on precautions in use, contraindications and side effects. The British National Formulary recommends that all such medicines, when dispensed against a doctor's prescription carry the standard warning
WARNING: May Cause Drowsiness. If affected do not drive or operate machinery. Avoid alcoholic drink".
§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what research his Department has evaluated into the side effects of neuroleptic drugs on patients with(a) Alzheimer's disease, (b) schizophrenia and (c) other psychotic diseases; and if he will make a statement; [14658]
(2) what research his Department has evaluated into the link between neuroleptic drugs and (a) the speed at which sufferers from dementia lose their cognitive abilities, (b) aggressive tendencies, (c) sleeping difficulty and (d) paranoia; and if he will make a statement. [14659]
§ Mr. MaloneAs for all marked medicines, the available research into the side effects of neuroleptics was assessed at the time of granting the marketing authorisations and continues to be evaluated by the Medicines Control Agency whenever new information emerges. Recognised side effects for neuroleptics are included in the authorised product information and the British National Formulary.
Information regarding the sensitivity of patients with dementia, particularly those with Lewy-body-type, to neuroleptics has previously been given to doctors in an article in the bulletin of the Medicines Control Agency and the Committee on Safety of Medicines in "Current Problems in Pharmacovigilance, May 1994".