[National and regional market penetration rates of generic's high dosage buprenorphine: its evolution from 2006 to 2008, using reimbursed drug database].

Objective: To assess the national market penetration rate (PR) of generic high-dosage buprenorphine (HDB) in 2008 and its evolution since their marketing (2006), and making a point for each dosage and at regional level.

Methods: Retrospective study over data using national and regional health reimbursement database over three years (2006-2008).

Results: In 2008, the generic HDB's national MPR was 31%.

Patterns of methylphenidate use and assessment of its abuse and diversion in two French administrative areas using a proxy of deviant behaviour determined from a reimbursement database: main trends from 2005 to 2008.

Background: Methylphenidate is a psychostimulant drug indicated for the treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Its abuse and diversion have been previously described in specific populations, such as students; however, few studies investigating abuse and diversion among the overall population are available.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe patterns of methylphenidate use and to explore the magnitude of its abuse and diversion in two French administrative areas using data from a reimbursement database.

Assessment of abuse of tianeptine from a reimbursement database using 'doctor-shopping' as an indicator.

Doctor-shopping is a patient behaviour characterized by simultaneous consultations of several physicians during the same period. Some case reports have described an abuse of tianeptine, an atypical antidepressant. Our objective was to assess the extent of abuse of this drug with a method quantifying doctor-shopping in comparison with other antidepressants and benzodiazepines (BZD).

Which indicators can public health authorities use to monitor prescription drug abuse and evaluate the impact of regulatory measures? Controlling High Dosage Buprenorphine abuse.

Background: Two methods have been recently developed from a drug reimbursement database to provide useful indicators for public health authorities concerning the abuse potential of psychotropic drugs. The doctor-shopping indicator (DSI) measures the proportion of the drug obtained by doctor shopping among the overall quantity of the drug reimbursed and the clustering method reveals subgroups of deviant patients.

Objective: The objective of the study was to analyze and compare indicators resulting from these two methods, applied to High Dosage Buprenorphine (HDB) (a product well-known to be diverted in France), in order to determine which public health authorities needs they answer.

Estimation of clonazepam abuse liability: a new method using a reimbursed drug database.

Some observations suggest the existence of clonazepam abuse. The aim of this study was to assess its magnitude in real life by a new method, using a prescription database, and to assess its evolution between 2001 and 2006. Individuals from a region affiliated to the French health reimbursement system, who had a prescription of clonazepam reimbursed between 1 January and 15 February of two selected years were included.

[A case-control study of health benefits in patients with moderate renal failure].

In order to evaluate medical management in patients with renal failure before dialysis, we conducted a case-control study to analyze the health benefits in 914 moderate renal failure patients with Cockcroft clearance between 30 and 60 ml/min. Health benefits reimbursed by the Social Security in this population were compared with those in 1828 controls randomly chosen in the Social Security files but matched by age and gender. Mean age of the participants was 73+/-11 year-old, 67% were women, Cockcroft clearance was 48+/-8 ml/min.

[Misuse of clonazepam (Rivotril): recent trends].

Recent observations suggest the existence of clonazepam abuse. In order to determine the importance of this practice and the characteristics of these consumers, a study has been carried out, based on data from the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur and Corsica health reimbursement system. Individuals from these regions affiliated to the French health reimbursement system, who have had a prescription of clonazepam reimbursed between January 1, 2001 and February 15, 2001, have been selected.

[Misuse of trihexyphenidyl (Artane, Parkinane): recent trends].

Recent observations suggest the existence of trihexyphenidyl abuse linked to its hallucinogenic and euphoric effects. In order to determine the importance of this practice and the characteristics of those involved, a study based on data from the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur and the Corsica health reimbursement system was carried out. Individuals from these regions affiliated to the French health reimbursement system who had a prescription for trihexyphenidyl (Artane, Parkinane) reimbursed between January 1, 2001, and February 15, 2001, were selected.