Article date: August 1999
By: Derek Stewart, Janet Krska, Keith Kendle, David Wintour, Campbell McGregor, in Volume 48, Issue 2, pages 247-249
Aims To investigate the use of peripheral vasodilators in selected practices in primary care and to observe the effect of withdrawing therapy in a sample of patients.
Methods Patients receiving repeat prescriptions for peripheral vasodilators, identified from two practices in Grampian, were interviewed prior to and following withdrawal of therapy.
Results Of the 35 patients, review of the continued need for therapy was documented in the medical notes of only one patient. Treatment was successfully withdrawn from 17 patients, generating considerable savings.
Conclusions Review of peripheral vasodilators merits further attention in larger numbers of patients.
DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2125.1999.00978.x
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