§ Dr. NaysmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what quantity of each individual type of benzodiazepine was prescribed via community pharmacists in England and Wales in(a) 1995 and (b) 1996. [8497]
294W
§ Mr. MilburnThe available information is shown in the tables.
Table 1: Benzodiazepines: number of prescription items dispensed (thousands), 1995 and 1996 England Drug group 1995 1996 Temazepam 6,063 5,540 Diazepam 3,411 3,600 Nitrazepam 2,582 2,539 Lorazepam 818 785 Chlordiazepoxide 438 428 Oxazepam 300 304 Lormetazepam 201 234 Loprazolam 213 221 Clonazepam 168 180 Clobazam 70 74 Triazolam 0 0 Totals 14,266 13,905 1. Data cover all prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacists and appliance contractors, dispensing doctors and prescriptions submitted by prescribing doctors for items personally administered.
2. A "0" indicates less than 500 prescription items.
3. Figures may not add up due to rounding.
Table 2: Benzodiazepines: number of prescription items dispensed (thousands), 1995 and 1996 Wales Drug group April 1995 to March 1996 April 1996 to March 1997 Temazepam 588 548 Diazepam 371 416 Nitrazepam 245 243 Lorazepam 78 76 Chlordiazepoxide 35 37 Oxazepam 35 35 Lormetazepam 21 24 Loprazolam 21 23 Clonazepam 12 14 Clobazam 1 3 Midazolam Hydrochloride 1 1 Totals 1,411 1,420 Note: These figures were obtained from the Welsh Office.