Drug Utilization Pattern of NSAIDs in Out Patient Department of Orthopedics of a Tertiary Care Hospital

Akshay Sadhotra; Anshu Gupta; Rani Walia; HS Sandhu

Volume : VI, Issue : X, October - 2016

Drug Utilization Pattern of NSAIDs in Out Patient Department of Orthopedics of a Tertiary Care Hospital

Akshay Sadhotra, Anshu Gupta, Rani Walia, Hs Sandhu

Abstract :

Non Steroid Anti Inflammatory Drugs prevent the production of prostanoids by inhibiting the enzyme cyclo–oxygenase (COX) in the arachidonic acid pathway, with proven efficacy as analgesics, antipyretics & anti–inflammatory agents. Study was planned to analyse the drug utilization pattern of NSAIDs in OPD of Orthopedics. Methods: A prospective observational study was planned on 200 patients after obtaining IEC approval visiting Orthopedics OPD. The drug utilization pattern was recorded on proforma. Assessment of pain relief was done by using 11 point numeric metric scale (Visual Analogue Scale). Observations: The total number of males & females were 92 (46 %) & 108 (54 %) respectively. Out of a total of 200 patients, 177 (88.5 %) patients were in the 18–64 years age group (non–elderly) with the rest 23 (11.5%) present in the > 65 years age category (elderly). A total of 200 prescriptions after analysis showed that out of 200 patients, 98 % were on non selective NSAIDs & 2 % on preferential & selective NSAIDs. Aceclofenac alone or with Paracetamol is the most common prescribed drugs. Conclusions: COX–1 inhibitors NSAIDs are the most common drugs used among all the NSAIDs.