Abstract

DRUG UTILIZATION RESEARCH ON ANTI-PSYCHOTICS IN AN OUT-PATIENT DEPARTMENT- A PROSPECTIVE STUDY FROM A SECONDARY HEALTH CARE SETTING IN SOUTH INDIA

Dr. M. Manasa*, Dr. G. Gopi, D. Sai Kerthi, R. Neeraj Kumar and M. Manohar

ABSTRACT

Drug utilization study is an important tool to study the clinical use of drugs and its impact on healthcare system. Also contributes to the rational use of drugs by describing patterns of drug use and identifying interventions to improve drug use in Out-Patient (OP) clinic. Aims and Objectives: To analyse the prescribing pattern of Anti-Psychotic drugs in elderly patients with Psychiatric disorders in a primary health care setting in South India. Methodology: A Prospective study was carried out, analysing Prescriptions of patients visiting OP (out-patient) department between April-2019 to September-2019.To determine the most commonly prescribed Anti-Psychotic drugs in elderly patients and to find out the utilization of Anti-Psychotics in OP clinic as measured by WHO-DDD Indicators. Results: A total of 70 out-patient prescriptions were screened, of which 44(63%) patients were males and 26(37%) were females. Out of 70 patients 36(51%) patients were diagnosed as Neurotic disorders, 30(43%) patients were diagnosed as Psychotic disorders and 4(6%) were diagnosed with other Psychiatric disorders(Degenerative disorders).Among 70patients Olanzapine was most commonly prescribed drug, followed by Quetiapine and Risperidone. Average number of Anti-psychotics per prescription in Neurotic disorders was found to be 2.25 and prescription of Anti-Psychotics in Psychotic disorders, and Psychiatric disorders was found to be 2. In conclusion: In our setting, Anti-Psychotics utilized were found to be rational and are comparable to those of Previous studies. However, prescription protocols need to be further addressed to guide appropriate use of drugs in the Out-Patient setting especially in elderly patients.

Keywords: Elderly patients, prescribing patterns, Psychiatric disorders, Atypical Anti-Psychotics, WHO-DDD indicators.