ABSTRACT
Background: Drug advertisements form one of the major sources for updating drug information by the medical professionals. It has been observed that Indian drug advertisements provide incomplete and poor quality of essential information. However, existing information on comparison of drug advertisements in Indian and foreign journals is limited. Hence, this study was planned to compare the drug advertisements published in Indian and foreign journals. Methods: A total of 200 drug advertisements, 100 each from Indian and foreign journals, were randomly selected excluding those of medical devices, surgical appliances, nutritional supplements and ayurvedic drugs. The drug advertisements from two sources were compared for drug groups, compliance to „Ethical criteria for medicinal drug promotion‟ of World Health Organization (WHO), retrievability of cited reference(s) and mention of any additional information. Results: Drug groups advertised frequently in the Indian journals were those used for chronic diseases whereas chemotherapeutic agents topped the list in foreign journals. Brand names were mentioned in 100% advertisements in both categories of journals whereas information on other ingredients known to cause problems was not mentioned in any of the studied advertisements. Overall, compliance to WHO guidelines by advertisements was 54.6% in Indian journals and 68.2% in foreign journals. The two categories of journals didn‟t differ significantly in retrievability of cited reference(s) and additional information except for information on drug storage which was significantly more mentioned in Indian journals. Conclusions: Drug advertisements in both Indian and foreign journals were incomplete for updating drug information by medical professionals
ABSTRACT
Background: Cardiovascular diseases are commonly associated with depression. Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) form commonly used group of drugs for the treatment of a number of cardiovascular diseases. Nifedipine, a CCB, has been shown to possess antidepressant activity and potentiate antidepressant activity of imipramine and sertraline, however, literature on its interaction with newer antidepressant drugs such as fl uvoxamine, venlafaxine and tianeptine is limited. Hence, the present study was undertaken. Methods: The study was carried out in albino mice in two phases. In Phase I, antidepressant activity of nifedipine, fl uvoxamine, venlafaxine and tianeptine were confi rmed after their single dose administration using forced swim test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST) and their minimum antidepressant doses were determined. In Phase II, the effect of nifedipine on antidepressant activity of fl uvoxamine, venlafaxine and tianeptine was studied by orally administering sub-antidepressant doses of these drugs for 28 days. FST and TST were carried out on 1st, 14th and 28th day of the study and change in immobility period was observed. Results: In Phase I, all the studied drugs exhibited dose dependent antidepressant activity in both FST and TST. Minimal antidepressant dose of nifedipine, fl uvoxamine, venlafaxine and tianeptine was observed as 10, 25, 25 and 10 mg/kg respectively. In Phase II, combinations of sub-antidepressant dose of nifedipine (5 mg/kg) with sub-antidepressant doses of fl uvoxamine (12.5 mg/kg), venlafaxine (12.5 mg/kg) and tianeptine (5 mg/kg) exhibited enhanced antidepressant activity when compared to the control group and individual drug groups after same duration of treatment. Conclusions: Nifedipine, fluvoxamine, venlafaxine and tianeptine possess antidepressant activity and nifedipine exhibits synergistic antidepressant activity with fl uvoxamine, venlafaxine and tianeptine.
ABSTRACT
Background: The present study was conducted to analyze the prescribing patterns and utilization of antihypertensive drugs at a tertiary care center in India. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of prescriptions of patients of essential hypertension attending outpatient department of a tertiary care hospital during the period of December 2011 to March 2012 was done. Hypertensive patients with comorbidities were excluded from study. The data were analyzed to fi nd out demographic characteristics of patients, number of drugs prescribed per prescription, drugs, which are commonly prescribed, antihypertensive drugs used concurrently, percentage of drugs prescribed by generic name and over all drug utilization frequency. Results: During the study period, 465 prescriptions for hypertension were analyzed. This study revealed that most of the patients were on combination of antihypertensive drugs (67.97%) while 31.18% patients received mono therapy. Among mono therapy drugs, calcium channel blockers (CCB) (31.03%) were prescribed most. Utilization of other major drug classes as mono therapy in decreasing order is angiotensinconverting enzyme inhibitors (28.28%), diuretics (17.93%), beta-blockers (11.72%) and angiotensin receptor blockers (10.34%). Among those who were treated with drug combinations, 64.24% received 2-drug, 25.95% received 3-drug regimen and 8.54% received 4-drug regimen. In combination therapy, 2-drug combination consisting of a CCB and a diuretic was most commonly (24.14%) prescribed. Conclusions: This study represents the current prescribing patterns for antihypertensive drugs and provides the baseline data for similar studies in future, as patterns in prescribing antihypertensive drugs keep changing.
ABSTRACT
Background: Paracetamol is used for symptomatic treatment of fever and pain with isoniazid and other anti-tubercular drugs in patients of tuberculosis. Literature has conflicting data regarding their interaction. Some studies show that isoniazid increases oxidative metabolism of paracetamol whereas some other suggest that isoniazid has an inhibitory effect. The present study was conducted to find out the possible interaction between paracetamol and isoniazid. Methods: The study was undertaken on Wistar strain of Albino rats. Group I and Group II animals were treated with paracetamol (500 mg/kg) and the combination of paracetamol (500 mg/kg) and isoniazid (30 mg/kg) respectively for 2 months. Blood samples were taken before and during the study for biochemical and histopathological studies of liver and renal functions and plasma paracetamol concentration was also evaluated. Results: Isoniazid decreased the plasma paracetamol concentration without affecting its analgesic activity. However, the hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic effects of paracetamol were found to be further aggravated by isoniazid co-administration. Conclusion: Isoniazid potentiates the hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic effects of paracetamol possibly due to hepatic enzyme induction by isoniazid.