overprescribe
verb
over·pre·scribe
ˌō-vər-pri-ˈskrīb 
overprescribed; overprescribing
: to prescribe (a medication, diagnostic test, etc.) in excess or more often than necessary
The family of a man who fatally overdosed is suing his doctors claiming they overprescribed addictive pain medication.—
WPXI.com (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
WPXI.com (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)… tried … to warn the world against overprescribing antibiotics to a point that they would be useless.—Network Ten (Australia)
Network Ten (Australia)Critics say Xanax is overprescribed and widely abused.—Jane Velez-Mitchell
Jane Velez-Mitchell… the compelling and continuing issues of quality control and overprescribing in medical imaging …—David J. Brenner and Hedvig Hricak
David J. Brenner and Hedvig HricakWhy do doctors overprescribe? Is it about covering their backsides in this litigious society?—Michael T. Osterholm and Mark Olshaker
Michael T. Osterholm and Mark OlshakerExamples of overprescribe in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In 2017, former Tomah VA chief of staff David Houlihan surrendered his medical license after he and others at the Tomah VA were found to be overprescribing opioids to veterans, one of whom died of a drug overdose while being treated there.
—Sarah Volpenhein, Journal Sentinel, 12 May 2023
When the crisis ramped up in the late 1990s, prescription opioids were overprescribed and people developed substance use disorders.
—Vanessa Arredondo, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2023
The clash between desperate patients who need treatment and DEA’s efforts to bar telehealth companies from overprescribing dangerous medications was inevitable, said David Herzberg, a historian of drugs at the University of Buffalo.
—Jonel Aleccia, Anchorage Daily News, 23 Apr. 2023
Some observers note that because of the rise of certain telehealth providers, stimulants may be overprescribed.
—Alexa Gagosz, BostonGlobe.com, 1 Mar. 2023
Numerous drug makers have been accused of downplaying the addictive risks of their opioid painkillers while simultaneously encouraging physicians to overprescribe the medicines.
—Ed Silverman Reprints, STAT, 28 June 2021
But that’s led to concerns of overprescribing and questions of whether some patients are needlessly getting the drug.
—Matthew Perrone, Chicago Tribune, 16 Mar. 2023
For specialized telehealth startups, more prescriptions mean more business, and reporting has found many of their employees were under pressure to overprescribe Adderall or other stimulants, which can easily be abused.
—Annalisa Merelli, Quartz, 2 Sep. 2022
The government said reimbursing the hospitals, called 340B hospitals, at the same rate as other hospitals that pay more created an incentive for the hospitals to overprescribe the drugs or prescribe more expensive drugs.
—Jessica Gresko, ajc, 15 June 2022
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Sarah Volpenhein, Journal Sentinel, 12 May 2023
When the crisis ramped up in the late 1990s, prescription opioids were overprescribed and people developed substance use disorders.
—Vanessa Arredondo, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2023
The clash between desperate patients who need treatment and DEA’s efforts to bar telehealth companies from overprescribing dangerous medications was inevitable, said David Herzberg, a historian of drugs at the University of Buffalo.
—Jonel Aleccia, Anchorage Daily News, 23 Apr. 2023
Some observers note that because of the rise of certain telehealth providers, stimulants may be overprescribed.
—Alexa Gagosz, BostonGlobe.com, 1 Mar. 2023
Numerous drug makers have been accused of downplaying the addictive risks of their opioid painkillers while simultaneously encouraging physicians to overprescribe the medicines.
—Ed Silverman Reprints, STAT, 28 June 2021
But that’s led to concerns of overprescribing and questions of whether some patients are needlessly getting the drug.
—Matthew Perrone, Chicago Tribune, 16 Mar. 2023
For specialized telehealth startups, more prescriptions mean more business, and reporting has found many of their employees were under pressure to overprescribe Adderall or other stimulants, which can easily be abused.
—Annalisa Merelli, Quartz, 2 Sep. 2022
The government said reimbursing the hospitals, called 340B hospitals, at the same rate as other hospitals that pay more created an incentive for the hospitals to overprescribe the drugs or prescribe more expensive drugs.
—Jessica Gresko, ajc, 15 June 2022
Cite this Entry
“Overprescribe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overprescribe. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
overprescribe
verb
over·pre·scribe
-pri-ˈskrīb
overprescribed; overprescribing
: to prescribe excessive or unnecessary medication
: to prescribe (medication) unnecessarily or to excess
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