[The use of ulcer medication in Iceland]

In Iceland, the consumption of pharmaceutics for lesions of the gastrointestinal tract is 20 DDD/1,000 inhabitant days, which is 2-3 times more than that of any of the other Nordic countries. A nationwide investigation showed 1.54 per cent of the Icelandic population to be on continuous ulcer medication, consumption being greatest in the 70-79-year-old age group. H2-blockers are used in 79 per cent of cases, omeprazole in 17 per cent, and other drugs in 4 per cent. Of the prescriptions, 65 per cent were issued by GPs, 15 per cent by gastro-enterologists and 14 per cent by other categories of physicians, the remaining 6 per cent being issued at hospitals. The reasons given by patients for the medication were ulcer problems (30 per cent), heartburn (29 per cent), gastritis (21 per cent), dyspepsia (9 per cent), and side-effects of other medication (7 per cent).