Utilization of etoricoxib in dental patients in the Nordic countries: a population-based register study

Abstract

Background: Etoricoxib is a second-generation cyclooxygenase-2-inhibitor approved in 2012 for short-term treatment of pain associated with dental surgery.

Objectives: To evaluate etoricoxib utilization in dental patients in the Nordic countries, including its off-label use.

Methods: The entire populations of Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Norway with etoricoxib prescriptions written by dentists and dispensed in 2012–2014 were evaluated using national register data. Nationwide estimates of etoricoxib utilization were generated according to year, gender, age, dose and package size. Off-label use in paediatric patients, prescribed doses >90 mg/day or for dental contacts not associated with surgical procedures, and concomitant administration with anticoagulants were evaluated.

Results: Utilization of etoricoxib for dental pain was low (1615 prescriptions: Finland, 907; Sweden, 359; Norway, 337; Denmark, 12). Overall, 70% of the prescriptions were without an associated dental procedure. Moreover, 58%, 55%, 10% and 58% of the prescriptions in Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Norway, respectively, were for >90 mg/day doses. Few paediatric prescriptions were dispensed (n < 10), and only a small overlap (n = 21) was observed between etoricoxib and anticoagulant prescriptions.

Conclusions: Given the low overall number of prescriptions, it is unlikely that off-label use of etoricoxib within dentistry in the Nordic countries is an important public health concern.