Withdrawal of peripheral vasodilators in primary care

To investigate the use of peripheral vasodilators in selected practices in primary care and to observe the effect of withdrawing therapy in a sample of patients.

Patients receiving repeat prescriptions for peripheral vasodilators, identified from two practices in Grampian, were interviewed prior to and following withdrawal of therapy.

Of the 35 patients, review of the continued need for therapy was documented in the medical notes of only one patient. Treatment was successfully withdrawn from 17 patients, generating considerable savings.

Review of peripheral vasodilators merits further attention in larger numbers of patients.