ABSTRACT
Background: Diabetes Mellitus is a worldwide growing problem causing threat to patient's health because of its association with various complications and comorbidities. It is a chronic disease requiring lifelong medication which further adds to the economic burden. The objective of this study was to evaluate the prescribing pattern and to do pharmacoeconomic analysis of prescribed antidiabetic drugs.Methods: This observational cross sectional study was conducted for 12 months duration in Outpatient Pharmacy of tertiary care hospital. Prescriptions with antidiabetic drugs were captured and evaluation of prescribing pattern along with pharmacoeconomic analysis of antidiabetic drugs was done.Results: A total of 611 prescriptions with antidiabetic drugs were analyzed. There were total 4034 drugs in all prescriptions with a mean of 6.6 drugs per prescription. 4.28% of drugs were prescribed by generic name and 58.9% of prescribed drugs were from essential drug list. Dual drug therapy was prescribed in maximum number of patients (42.2%) followed by monotherapy (28.8%). More commonly prescribed class of antidiabetic drugs was biguanides as monotherapy (n=119) and its combination with sulfonylureas was prescribed maximally among dual drug therapy (n=158). Cost of monthly therapy for antidiabetic drugs prescribed as monotherapy was least with Biguanides (? 98.89/ month) whereas combination of biguanides and thiazolidinediones was least expensive among dual drug therapy (? 216/ month).Conclusions: Biguanides was the most common prescribed class of antidiabetic drugs among monotherapy and its combination with sulfonylureas was most prescribed as dual drug therapy and both of these therapies were economical.
ABSTRACT
Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) is a novel oral immunomodulatory and neuroprotective drug that was approved by FDA for relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). The initial use of DMF was for the treatment of psoriasis where its long-term use was safe and efficacious, and it also got German approval for the same. It was found that the anti-inflammatory actions of DMF contributed to its efficacy in psoriasis. This anti-inflammatory action of DMF created interest using DMF in other auto-immune or inflammatory diseases, including MS. DMF acts by decreasing production and release of inflammatory molecules. DMF also activates the nuclear factor-erythroid 2 related factor pathway which induces the transcription of various genes, including anti-oxidative ones, reduces oxidative neuronal death and helps maintain myelin integrity. Thus, DMF acts via two pathways: by down-regulating oxidative stress and corresponding cellular injury, as well as by inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokines. DMF is an orally administered, enteric-coated microtablet preparation. There was a 44-53% reduction in annualized relapse rate with the use of DMF in patients with relapsing form of MS. The most common adverse reactions reported are flushing, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and nausea, which are more prominent during initial treatment and usually decrease over time. No serious adverse events were seen during the phase II and III trials, including no increased risk of opportunistic infections or cancer. DMF seems to approach the ideal combination of safety, efficacy and welltolerability to other approved oral therapies for MS.
ABSTRACT
Background & objectives:Severe sepsis and septic shock are major health problems. Stress dose of hydrocortisone infusion reduces the time of cessation of vasopressor therapy in septic shock. This study was planned to see the role of low dose corticosteroids on duration of vasopressor therapy in patients with septic shock along with their outcome. Methods: The study was carried out in 40 patients of septic shock. The patients were randomized into two groups i.e. treatment (Group A) and the placebo (Group B) groups of 20 each. Both groups received antibiotics, vasopressors i.e. Dopamine and Norepinephrine and IV fluids along with low dose hydrocortisone being administered only to Group A. Mean values were compared statistically using t-test and z-test. Results: The mean time spent in shock (hours) in survivors was 44.00 ± 11.2 (p< 0.001) while in group B was 72.00 ± 0.00 (p< 0.05). Also, the number of survivors in group A was more with cortisol levels of 5-25 mcg/ml. Interpretation & conclusion:Low dose hydrocortisone reduced the time spent in shock in survivors of group A, thereby reducing duration of vasopressor therapy. It also reduced mortality in subgroup of patients with serum cortisol levels of 5-25 mcg/ml proving that moderately low cortisol levels are benefitted more with hydrocortisone therapy than those with relatively high cortisol levels.
ABSTRACT
The APACHE (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation) is a prognostic scoring system for classifying patients in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) on the basis of physiological scores and chronic health status. The chances of survival increase with a decrease in score. AMAs play a major role in management of such illnesses and dramatically improve patient outcome. This study has been undertaken to study the AMA utilization patterns in ICUs. Data was collected from 49 patients admitted in Surgery and Neurosurgery ICUs after IEC approval. The average number of AMAs used was 3.36 per patient. The highest use of AMAs was 4.3 in group VI of APACHE scoring system. Cephalosporins was the most commonly prescribed AMA group. The preferred route of administration was intravenous route. Feedback from this study would help both the prescribers and institutional authorities to review their prescribing practices and modify if necessary to facilitate better health care delivery.