Abstracts by key term: Verordnung
The prescription volume of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) remains high, although the literature increasingly indicates over-prescribing relative to guideline recommendations. Recent data on the situation in Germany are lacking. The aim of this study was to determine the actual quantity of prescribed and over-the-counter PPIs in Germany. Based on several large IQVIA databases, we show that a total of 2.87 billion PPI tablets were sold between November 2020 and October 2021, with most prescriptions being for the largest pack sizes and strengths. Furthermore, the over-the-counter PPI market grew by an average of 141 million per year over a three-year period. The results of this study suggest the considerable size of the prescription PPI market in Germany, as well as a consistent increase in over-the-counter PPI purchases and a recent rise in prescriptions.