Drug utilization pattern of fixed dose combinations prescribed for patients of psychiatric disorder in psychiatric department in a tertiary care teaching hospital.

Dr. Vandana Goyal; Mr. Arun Kumar Sharma; Shifali Munjal

Volume : V, Issue : X, October - 2016

Drug utilization pattern of fixed dose combinations prescribed for patients of psychiatric disorder in psychiatric department in a tertiary care teaching hospital.

Dr. Vandana Goyal, Mr. Arun Kumar Sharma, Shifali Munjal

Abstract :

Introduction: Prescription order is an important transaction between the physician and patient. It ings into focus the diagnostic acumen and therapeutic proficiency of the physician with instruction for palliation or restoration of the patient�s health. Psychiatric disorders are one of the major causes of morbidity. WHO estimated that globally over 450 million people suffer from mental disorders. For the treatment of psychiatric disorders, a wide array of psychotropic drugs is available. Psychiatrists are now very keen to use newer psychotropic medications in psychiatric practice which require vast study on their utilization and consequences on real life effectiveness and safety in actual clinical practice. There are very few studies which have evaluated the prescription pattern of fixed dose combinations and their safety profile in psychiatric patients from India. This leads to prompt us to design the present study. Aims & Objective: Primary aim was to analyze the drug utilization pattern of fixed dose combinations prescribed for patients of psychiatric disorder in psychiatric department in J.L.N medical college & Associate group of Hospitals. Material & Methods: After taking prior approval from Institutional Ethics Committee, this study was carried a for 6 months duration (1st Apr 2015 – 30th Sep 2015) in J.L.N. Medical College & Associate groups of Hospitals Ajmer. We randomly collected 135 copies for each month and a total of 810 carbon copies of prescription of patients who had visited the OPD of the psychiatric department of this college, fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criteria were selected for study. Data were analysed as per our aims & objective. Result: We found that that of total medicine formulations prescribed, 5.75% (177) were in the form of fixed dose combinations (FDCs). All the medicine formulations prescribed were from Rajasthan Essential Drug list (RMSC–EDL) and were essential according to state essential drug list. Conclusion: In our study FDC occupies (5.75 %) only a small fraction of total drugs prescribed. This is a sign of good prescribing. It is the high time that health care professionals, pharmaceutical companies and regulatory authorities should join hands and prescribe guidelines for the manufacture and sale of FDCs.