Wayne D Hall

Publications (3)8.39 Total impact

• Article: Psychiatric drug prescribing in elderly Australians: time for action.

  Samantha A Hollingworth, David C Lie, Dan J Siskind, Gerard J Byrne, Wayne D Hall, Harvey A Whiteford
  Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 08/2011; 45(9):705-8. · 2.93 Impact Factor
• Article: Utilization of anti-Parkinson drugs in Australia: 1995-2009.

  Samantha A Hollingworth, Amanda Rush, Wayne D Hall, Mervyn J Eadie
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  ABSTRACT: To examine trends in the prescribing of anti-Parkinsonian drugs (APD) in Australia from 1995 to 2009. We analyzed the Medicare Australia and Drug Utilisation Sub-Committee (DUSC) databases for prescription data for overall APD dispensed use from 1995. We were able to examine prescribing by gender, age, and type of prescriber between 2002 and 2009. Prescriptions were converted to defined daily doses (DDD)/1000 population/day using Australian Bureau of Statistics population data. Dispensed use of levodopa + carbidopa remained steady from 1995 to 2009 (0.76-0.82 DDD/1000 population/day); levodopa + benserazide use increased from 0.34 to 0.55 DDD/1000 population/day. Since 2005 dispensed use of levodopa + carbidopa + entacapone has steadily increased, from 0.03 to 0.10 DDD/1000 population/day. In July 2009 levodopa + carbidopa was the most widely used agent, followed by levodopa + benserazide, then benztropine. Cabergoline increased from 1999, peaked in 2006, and thereafter declined. APD use peaked in males and females aged 60-69 years. Age-adjusted utilization was slightly higher in males than females. The amount of levodopa dispensed has slowly increased with levodopa + benserazide increasing faster than levodopa + carbidopa. Use of cabergoline fell when pramipexole became available and the risk of ergot-related serosal adverse effects was more widely appreciated. Use of centrally acting anti-cholinergics decreased over a period of time when use of atypical anti-psychotic agents increased.
  Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety 02/2011; 20(5):450-6. · 2.53 Impact Factor
• Article: Patterns of antipsychotic medication use in Australia 2002-2007.

  Samantha A Hollingworth, Dan J Siskind, Lisa M Nissen, Maxine Robinson, Wayne D Hall
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  ABSTRACT: Atypical antipsychotic medications that are primarily used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder cost the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) AUD$334.4m in 2007. There are indications that they have also been used outside the approved indications to treat behavioural disturbances in the elderly. The aim of the present study was therefore to examine (i) trends in prescribing of subsidized atypical antipsychotic drugs in the Australian population from 2002 to 2007; and (ii) gender and age differences in the utilization of these drugs. Government (Medicare Australia) data on numbers of prescriptions, quantity and doses for atypical and typical antipsychotics from 2002 to 2007 were analysed. Defined daily dose per 1000 population per day were estimated for age and sex groups using Australian Bureau of Statistics population data. The proportion of prescribed antipsychotics that were atypical increased from 61% in 2002 to 77% in 2007. In male subjects, olanzapine was most often prescribed between the ages of 25 and 55 years. In female subjects, in contrast, the highest rates of prescribing were in those > or = 75 years. Lower doses of these drugs were prescribed in older adults. Atypical antipsychotic drugs were most commonly used to treat schizophrenia in younger men and behavioural disturbances in older women with dementia. They appear to have been used outside of the approved indication for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder with significant financial costs to the PBS. Research into the reasons for their extensive use in elderly women is needed to inform more rational prescribing of these medicines.
  Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 04/2010; 44(4):372-7. · 2.93 Impact Factor