Proton pump inhibitors: potential cost reductions by applying prescribing guidelines

Table 1 Percentage of patients prescribed PPIs ≥ 3 months in 2007 (by age distribution of the HSE-PCRS population)

*Age Bands*	% ≥ *3 months*	*Proportion at maximum dosage*
16-24 years	1.41	60.46
25-34 years	3.62	63.99
35-44 years	7.32	64.64
45-54 years	14.80	63.68
55-64 years	20.79	62.67
65-69 years	23.87	61.02
70-74 years	23.11	59.12
75+ years	28.87	60.29

Notes: Maximum therapeutic dose= 40 mg/daily omeprazole, pantoprazole and esomeprazole. 30 mg/daily lansoprazole and 20 mg/daily rabeprazole.

ISSN: 1472-6963