Patient acceptability and experiences of therapeutic switching of proton pump inhibitors within the National Preferred Drugs initiative in Ireland.

INTRODUCTION

A 'Preferred Drugs' initiative was introduced into Ireland in 2013. This identified a single recommended drug to be prescribed to patients requiring treatment from a particular class of drugs.

AIMS

This study investigates how patients on established proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy experienced the therapeutic switching of their medication to the 'preferred drug', and the extent to which they regarded it as an acceptable practice.

METHODS

The experiences of 61 patients on established proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy were sought before and after their drug was switched to the 'preferred drug'.

RESULTS

Eighty per cent of patients were happy to switch medications. When asked for their opinions on medications in general, 71% felt doctors should prescribe the least expensive medication, 84% agreed that all licensed medications were safe while 67% felt their GP changing medication for cost reasons was safe. After 8 weeks, 20% of patients had switched back to their old PPI. When asked how they felt about their medication change, 74% felt happy or pleased.

CONCLUSIONS

The majority of patients in our study were satisfied to have their medication switched. However, prescribers should be mindful that 1 in 5 patients encountered problems as a result of the switching process.