ABSTRACT
Background: Pregnancy represents a special physiological state during which the use of drug is of growing concern due to risk of teratogenicity. Anemia is common threat to mother. Therefore, our aim was to study the drug utilization, teratogenic risk among patients of anemia in pregnancy and check rationality of prescriptions. Methods: An observational, prospective study was carried out in 150 indoor patients in the tertiary care hospital. Protocol was approved by the Institutional Review Board. The data were collected in a pre-designed proforma. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0 Software. Results: Among 150 patients, 23, 111, and 16 were of <20, 20-30 and more than 30 years of age respectively. Among anemic patients Pregnancy induced hypertension (18.7%), antepartum hemorrhage (12.7%) were common. About 71% women have complaint of weakness, followed by headache. Iron (93.3%) and calcium (86.0%) were the most common drugs prescribed. Iron sucrose and packed cell volume given in severe anemia. Drug risk category, Category A (90.21%) was most frequently prescribed, which is followed by Category B (8.0%) and Category C (1.8%). Percentage of drugs prescribed by generic name and from essential drug list was 70.3 and 89.2. Overall prescribing habit was rational according to Indian guideline. Conclusion: Iron, calcium, and folic acid were most commonly prescribed drugs in anemic patients. No teratogenic risk was found out during drug use. Drug and dose of the drug was rational and appropriate. There is lesser number of drugs prescribed by generic name and hospital supply.