§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS prescriptions for(a) Aricept, (b) Concerta XL and (c) Risperidone have been made in 2003; and what additional funds have been made available for prescription of these drugs.[141071]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonInformation on the number of prescription items and net ingredient cost (NIC) of all Aricept, Concerta and Risperidone drugs dispensed in the community in England in 2003 (January to September) is shown in the table.
National health service bodies are expected to meet the costs of prescriptions from their unified allocations, which have increased on average by over 9 per cent., over the three years starting from 2002–03.
Number of prescription items for Aricept, Concerts and Risperidone drugs dispensed in the community in England in 2003(January to September 2003 only. Not a full year) Chemical name Items (000s) Donepezil Hydrochloride (Aricept) 181.3 Concerta 93.6 Risperidone (Risperdal) 1,019.6 Notes:1.
1. Aricept is included in British National Formulary (BNF) Section 4.11 (Drugs for dementia), and is a brand of the chemical entity Donepezil Hydrochloride. Aricept is the only brand. There are no generics available.
Concerta is included in BNF Section 4.4 (Central nervous system stimulants), and is a brand of the chemical entity Methylphenidate Hydrochloride. Concerta is one of many brands of Methylphenidate Hydrochloride, including the generic. Risperidone is a chemical entity and is included in BNF Section 4.2 (Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders). Risperdal is the only brand of Risperdone, there are no generics available.
2. The data are based on prescription items dispensed in the community, ie by community pharmacists and appliance contractors, dispensing doctors, and prescriptions submitted by prescribing doctors for items personally administered in England.
3.The data do not cover drugs dispensed in hospital or private prescriptions.
4.Doctors, dentists or nurses write prescriptions on a prescription form. Each single item written on the form is counted as a prescription item.
Source
Prescription Cost Analysis (PCA) data from the Prescription Pricing Authority