overprescribe

English

Etymology

From over- +‎ prescribe.

Verb

overprescribe (third-person singular simple present overprescribes, present participle overprescribing, simple past and past participle overprescribed)

1. (transitive) To prescribe (a drug) more frequently than appropriate.

   Antonym: underprescribe

   • 2007 May 9, The Associated Press, “Painkiller’s Maker Settles Complaint”, in New York Times‎^[1]:

     The drug maker Purdue Pharma has agreed […] to settle complaints that it encouraged physicians to overprescribe its painkiller OxyContin.

See also

• overmedicate