Abstract
Introduction:
Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects patients’ lives by deteriorating their motor and non-motor functions through the loss of dopaminergic neurons. Medications remain the preferred option to manage Parkinson’s disease symptoms. In Australia, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) supports access to essential medicines by subsidising their cost, making long-term treatment more affordable.
Aim:
This study analyses the dispensing patterns of Parkinson’s medications in Australia from 2012 to 2024, focusing on utilisation trends over time and shifts in prescribing practices.
Methods:
We conducted a quantitative analysis using concessional PBS data. Key variables included cumulative and annual prescription counts, defined daily dose (DDD), and DDD per 1000 concessional population per day, classified by medication type and Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical code. Time trends were examined using linear regression, and Pearson’s correlation coefficients were assessed to understand the relationship between changes over the year and time.
Results:
A total of 14 medications were assessed, with an accumulated dispensing count of 11,493,423. Levodopa combined with Benserazide had the highest prescription count at 3,663,722 and a mean DDD per 1000 concessional population of 1.81, followed by Levodopa combined with Carbidopa. Linear regression showed strong correlations (r > 0.9) between prescription volume and time for the majority of medications assessed.
Discussion:
The findings highlighted a preference for Levodopa-based therapies, combined with Benserazide or Carbidopa, and suggest shifts in prescription patterns. By identifying the dispensing patterns of Parkinson’s medication, the study contributes to developing treatment trends for further analysis of these medications’ distribution and consumption.
Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects patients’ lives by deteriorating their motor and non-motor functions through the loss of dopaminergic neurons. Medications remain the preferred option to manage Parkinson’s disease symptoms. In Australia, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) supports access to essential medicines by subsidising their cost, making long-term treatment more affordable.
Aim:
This study analyses the dispensing patterns of Parkinson’s medications in Australia from 2012 to 2024, focusing on utilisation trends over time and shifts in prescribing practices.
Methods:
We conducted a quantitative analysis using concessional PBS data. Key variables included cumulative and annual prescription counts, defined daily dose (DDD), and DDD per 1000 concessional population per day, classified by medication type and Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical code. Time trends were examined using linear regression, and Pearson’s correlation coefficients were assessed to understand the relationship between changes over the year and time.
Results:
A total of 14 medications were assessed, with an accumulated dispensing count of 11,493,423. Levodopa combined with Benserazide had the highest prescription count at 3,663,722 and a mean DDD per 1000 concessional population of 1.81, followed by Levodopa combined with Carbidopa. Linear regression showed strong correlations (r > 0.9) between prescription volume and time for the majority of medications assessed.
Discussion:
The findings highlighted a preference for Levodopa-based therapies, combined with Benserazide or Carbidopa, and suggest shifts in prescription patterns. By identifying the dispensing patterns of Parkinson’s medication, the study contributes to developing treatment trends for further analysis of these medications’ distribution and consumption.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Journal of Primary Health Care |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - 17 Nov 2025 |