Maguire A, Rugg-Gunn A J
Department of Child Dental Health, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Community Dent Health. 1997 Mar;14(1):31-5.
To assess the changes in prescribing of liquid oral medicines used long-term in children and to observe any patterns of change in sugar-free prescribing.
Prescribing patterns in 1992 were compared with those in 1987. Information on these and on the sweetening agent in each liquid oral medicine was obtained from several relevant sources.
The survey covered the Northern region of England, and Great Britain overall.
Data on numbers (in 1000s) and quantities (1) of liquid oral medicines prescribed and dispensed during 1992. All generic and propriety preparations with equivalent therapeutic effects were included.
There was a small percentage reduction in the use of liquid oral medicines among all medicines dispensed in Great Britain in 1992 compared with 1987. The total volume of liquid oral medicines prescribed in the Northern region increased from 320,000 l to 442,600 l of which the total quantity prescribed as sugar-free increased from 35 per cent to 50 per cent.
Children who require medicines long-term are often those for whom dental disease and treatment carry the greatest potential risks. Use of solid rather than liquid dose forms of medicine should be promoted and the trend towards the sugar-free options in liquid medicines should be encouraged and sustained.
评估儿童长期使用的口服液体药物的处方变化，并观察无糖处方的任何变化模式。
将1992年的处方模式与1987年的进行比较。关于这些以及每种口服液体药物中甜味剂的信息来自几个相关来源。
调查覆盖了英格兰北部地区以及整个英国。
1992年期间开具和分发的口服液体药物的数量（以千计）和量（升）的数据。包括所有具有等效治疗效果的通用制剂和专利制剂。
与1987年相比，1992年在英国分发的所有药物中，口服液体药物的使用量有小幅下降。北部地区开具的口服液体药物总量从320,000升增加到442,600升，其中无糖处方的总量从35%增加到50%。
长期需要药物治疗的儿童往往是那些患牙病和接受治疗风险最大的儿童。应推广使用固体而非液体剂型的药物，并鼓励和维持口服液体药物选择无糖的趋势。
