Patterns of Analgesic Prescribing and High‐Risk Prescribing in Primary Care in Ireland 2014–2022—A Repeated Cross‐Sectional Study
Analgesic drug classes are an important focus for improving medication safety. This study suggests analgesic use is falling in Ireland, particularly for systemic NSAIDs, especially in older adults where adverse effects may be most harmful. The increasing prevalence of other analgesics may largely be explained by an ageing population. Analgesic use, and high-risk prescribing, remains high, suggesting a need for enhanced access to non-pharmacological services and interventions and also improved education and deprescribing support for healthcare professionals to address high-risk prescribing.
Authors
- Tom Fahey (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5896-5783)
- Molly Mattsson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7208-3613)
- Mary E. Walsh (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8920-7419)
- Emma K. Wallace (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9315-2956)
- Ciara Kirke (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5402-9018)
- Derek Corrigan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7632-6013)
- Michelle Flood (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8284-1780)
- Brian MacKenna (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3786-9063)
- Frank Moriarty (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9838-3625)
- Ahmed Ali (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7462-9766)
- Fiona Boland (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3228-0046)
Institutions
- University College Dublin (IE)
- University College Cork (IE)
- University of Oxford (GB)
- Dublin City University (IE)
- National Patient Safety Foundation (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- European Journal of Pain
- Published
- 2025-09-01
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/ejp.70115
- Primary Topic
- Pharmaceutical Practices and Patient Outcomes
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Health Research Board