Aspects of inappropriate prescribing including examples for each aspect.
| Example | Description of the problem |
|---|---|
| 1. Medicine not useful (no indication, no proven effectiveness or better/safer alternatives available) | Prescribing clofibrate, for which much safer and more effective alternatives exits |
| 2. Medicine inappropriate for use in older patients | Prescribing diazepam, which has a long half-life time |
| 3. Prolonged prescribing of hypnotics | Medicine is not taken for a correct duration |
| 4. Dosage exceeds the suitable dosage for older patients | Prescribing flurazepam in a dosage exceeding 15 mg daily |
| 5. Unnecessary therapeutic duplication benzodiazepine | Prescribing cylcobarbital and a |
| 6. Contraindication known (drug–disease interaction) | Prescribing indometacin to a patient suffering from heart failure |
| 7. Medicine used for treatment of a side-effect caused by another medicine | Omeprazole for treatment of stomach problems probably caused by ketoprofen (NSAID) |
| 8. Interaction with another medicine (drug–drug interaction) | Prescribing cotrimoxazol to a patient using acenocoumarol (coumarin-derivative) that causes problems in managing INR |
| 9. Omission of drug therapy that is indicated for the treatment or prevention of a condition | Lack of prescribing a laxative to a patient |
| 10. Medicine used in/provided by unsuitable administration aids for older people | Prescribing different types of inhalation devices to one patient |