Trends in opioid analgesics consumption, Israel, 2000-2008.

OBJECTIVE

To describe trends in opioid consumption in Israel (morphine, methadone, oxycodone, pethidine, fentanyl, buprenorphine, codeine, and dextropropoxyphene) over the 9 years, 2000-2008, and to explore explanations for changes in consumption, in amounts and the pattern.

METHODS

Data for the 2000-2008 period (all treatment settings, private and public) were drawn from the database maintained by the Israel Ministry of Health's Pharmaceutical Administration. The data were converted into a defined daily dose (DDD)/1,000 inhabitants/day.

RESULTS

Consumption of the five strong opioids (requiring a special prescription form) increased by 47%, from 2.46 DDD/1,000 inhabitants per day in 2000 to 3.61 DDD/1,000 inhabitants per day in 2008. This rise was mainly the result of a 4-fold increase in fentanyl consumption from 0.32 DDD/1,000 inhabitants per day in 2000 to 1.28 DDD/1,000 inhabitants per day in 2008. Oxycodone and methadone consumption levels increased moderately, and buprenorphine and dextropropoxyphene consumption rose drastically, whereas morphine, pethidine, and codeine use significantly fell.

CONCLUSION

There has been a modest increase in opioid consumption in the years 2000-2008. This has been associated with substantial changes in the pattern of differential opioid prescribing characterized by increased prescription of oxycodone, fentanyl, buprenorphine, and dextropropoxyphene, and decreases in morphine, pethidine, and codeine.