Sensible prescribing in general practice

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to provide simple and clear guidelines towards the knowledge that is necessary to allow the sensible use of essential drugs in the management of common conditions. It is important to remember that prescribing drugs is not the. only important factor in the management of disease. Indeed it is important to identify and deal with such factors. Such interventi on might require the cessation of administration of a specific drug. Moreover non-pharmacological measures are important in the management of such conditions, as hypertension, asthma, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidaemia, etc. The aim of all therapy is to administer the appropriate drug in the correct dose to produce the desired therapeutic effect with the minimum of adverse side-effects. Whenever a drug is due to be prescribed, one has to take into consideration the three factors which form the therapeutic equation (Figure 1). One has to take into consideration the disease to be treated, the drug which is most appropriate, and the patient to be treated. I will be reviewing these three aspects by giving examples of diseases which are commonly met in general practice.