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Fluoxetine and Nortriptyline: Children

Answer

The tables below show the total of prescription items for patients aged under 18 who were prescribed fluoxetine or nortriptyline for the partial year of April–Dec 2015, and then full calendar years 2016–23.

The NHS Business Services Authority does not hold patient level data prior to April 2015.

This information is extracted from ePACT2, using British National Formulary chemical substance, prescribed in England that are then dispensed in the community in England, Scotland, Wales, Isle of Man or the Channel Islands.

Total number of items issued for Fluoxetine Hydrochloride
Time Period	Total items issued to age range (Under 18)
Part year 2015 (Apr – Dec)	91,685
2016	126,193
2017	129,205
2018	136,275
2019	143,271
2020	147,555
2021	155,398
2022	156,324
2023	149,839

Total number of items issued for Nortriptyline
Time Period	Total items issued to age range (Under 18)
Part year 2015 (Apr – Dec)	1,481
2016	1,931
2017	1,673
2018	1,514
2019	1,616
2020	1,599
2021	1,777
2022	1,758
2023	1,915

Prescriptions do not state the purpose for which they are written, so there may be instances where medicines are used for other conditions.

Many medicines, including medicines used to treat depression, are licensed and prescribed for other conditions. The Department expects prescribers to always satisfy themselves that the medicines they consider appropriate for their patients can be safely prescribed.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

HL3162

Session

2023-24

Subjects

Children Prescriptions Fluoxetine Nortriptyline

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.parliament.uk