GPs overprescribing drugs for anxiety, depression and chronic pain

Kenneth Fox

The Irish College of GPs said they welcome the publication of the report on the overprescribing of Benzodiazepines, Z Drugs & Gazapentinoids in Ireland.

The chair of the board of the Irish College of GPs, Dr Deirdre Collins, said: “At the heart of overprescribing is often the patient with distressing symptoms."

She said medications as listed in the report can be appropriately prescribed for patients with grief reaction, acute disc prolapse, chronic neuropathic pain, chronic anxiety, etc.

Solutions to overprescribing require a multifaceted approach, including timely access to suitable services for patients nationwide.

The Irish College of GPs is the professional body for general practice in Ireland.

The College is the representative organization for education, training, and standards in general practice, with over 4,400 members comprising over 85 per cent of practicing GPs in the Republic of Ireland.

A multi-agency working group released a report on Tuesday entitled “Examining the over-prescribing of Benzodiazepines, Z Drugs and Gabapentinoids in Ireland”

Ms Collins said: "Modern healthcare sees the management of any of these as going far beyond only prescribing medication, but unfortunately it may be weeks or months before they can access counselling, physiotherapy, psychiatry assessment, or pain multidisciplinary team assessment”.

“GPs see many patients face-to-face every day and make good use of our limited resources, but often we are only able to provide some brief counselling, and many consultations do result in a prescription. We try where possible to limit prescribing to the shortest and lowest dose possible whilst giving relief.”

Meanwhile, Dr. Suzanne Kelly the assistant medical director of the Irish College of GPs said ancillary services, supports, counselling services, pain management teams, and weight management supports should be available for primary care/GP referral, and this must be accessible in a timely manner all over the country.

It would enable GPs to have alternatives to commencing or continuing medications and "enhance our work in supporting patients who are dependent on these medications in the community,

She said: “We acknowledge the supports the HSE has also put in place, e.g. the Silver Cloud virtual counselling service for mild anxiety and depression.”

The Irish College of GPs also  runs a “Better Safer Prescribing” course for members, with an entire module on the medications highlighted in this report.

The College provides education for members in Level 1 Addiction Management and Prescribing.

Furthermore, the College has blended learning resources on benzodiazepine prescribing for 1300 GPs in training.