A PROSPECTIVE PRESCRIPTION PATTERN OF NON STEROIDAL ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DRUGS AMONG GENERAL PRACTITIONERS IN DAKSHINA KANNADA DISTRICT OF SOUTHERN INDIA

Abstract

The treatment of pain and inflammation is an important area of therapeutics. Over the past two decades, Non Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) have played a central role in these indications. The objective of this study was to evaluate the prescription pattern of Non Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs among general practioners in Dakshina Kannada district of southern India. A total 793 cases were recorded between May 2010 to Oct 2010 out of which males were 403 (50.82%) and females were 390 (49.18%). Out of 335 (42.24%) cases, there were 85 (42.5%) males and 115 (57.5%) females between the age

group of 26 – 35 years and out of 44 (5.55%) cases, there were 7 (15.90%) males and 7 (15.90%) females between the age group of 56 – 65 years. Pattern of drug utilization shows that 22% of prescription contained for Paracetamol and diclofenac. Aceclofenac and Lornoxicam accounts for 1% of the prescription in our study. Among prescription for concurrent medications, about 132 (14.86%) were H2 blockers, 126 (14.19%) were antibiotics and 3 (0.34%) were inj. Furosemide which was least prescribed.