ABSTRACT
Background: In our country there is easy availability of drugs over the counter leading to their unintentional misuse and abuse. Over the counter availability of drugs does offer the benefit of easy access to medicines and allows individuals to become in charge of their own health. It is important to understand that medical education can impact the OTC drug use amongst medical students. In order to observe the pattern of OTC drug use among the first and second professional MBBS students we planned this study. The aim of the study was to evaluate use of over the counter (OTC) drugs among medical students in a tertiary care teaching hospital.Methods: Our study was a cross sectional study conducted on first and second professional MBBS students. Authors administered a self structured, prevalidated questionnaire to the students. The data obtained was tabulated, analyzed and the results calculated in percentages.Results: The use of OTC drugs is common amongst undergraduate students. All (100%) the students who participated in the study had used OTC drugs at some point in their life. The common conditions prompting use of OTC drugs include head ache, body aches (74%), fever (72%), respiratory conditions such as: cold (60%), cough (28.5%), abdominal symptoms such as: abdominal pain (14%), gastritis (7.5%), diarrhea (6%), vomiting (5%) and allergies (10%). Very few students reported adverse drug reactions with these drugs.Conclusions: From our study we have concluded that OTC drugs are commonly used amongst medical students. So, periodic training and talks on self medication are necessary for them. Student knowledge in this aspect will help them in future counseling of their patients.
ABSTRACT
Mirabegron is the first and only β3 agonist approved by US FDA in June 2012 for treatment of Overactive bladder with symptoms of urge incontinence, urgency and urinary frequency. It is the first oral OAB treatment with a distinct mechanism of action since the launch of anticholinergic agents 30 years ago. It causes relaxation of detrusor smooth muscle by its agonist action at β3 receptors leading to increased storage capacity of bladder. It has been studied extensively in more than 10,000 individuals over 10 years.
ABSTRACT
Background: Stroke is a medical emergency with mortality rate higher than most forms of cancer. Acute ischemic stroke is a complex entity with variable clinical manifestations depending on the site and extent of infarction. Besides standard treatment given to the patients, neuroprotection is being targeted to antagonize molecular events that lead to irreversible ischemic injury. Methods: In this study, role of Citicoline in acute ischemic stroke was studied. It was open label study of 12 weeks duration undertaken in Medicine department (emergency unit) of Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Vallah, Amritsar. Total 40 patients were randomly divided into Group 1 and Group 2. Group 1 received standard treatment for acute ischemic stroke and Group 2 received citicoline in addition to standard treatment. Patients were assessed at admission and after every 24 hours till hospital discharge. Follow up of the patients was done at three weeks, six weeks and twelve weeks after discharge using National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), Modified Rankin Scale (MRS) and Modified Barthel Index (MBI). The data was statistically analysed using Mann Whitney test. Results: No significant difference was found between two groups with respect to MRS and MBI score throughout the study period. Statistically significant improvement was seen in citicoline group on NIHSS score by 2nd and 3rd day of admission and then on 12th week. Conclusions: Citicoline was found to be safe but with no statistically significant difference in treatment outcome between two groups.