ABSTRACT
Background: Osteoporosis is a chronic disease leading to weakened and porous bones which increases the risk of fractures. It is a treatable condition using drugs like bisphosphonates. There is wide variation in the cost among various brands of bisphosphonates in the Indian market, so the objective of the study was to analyse cost of different brands of bisphosphonates.Methods: Cost of both oral and injectable bisphosphonates in the same strength and dosage forms was obtained from CIMS India (January-April 2019). For oral form of the drug, price was calculated per 10 tablets, for injectable form the price per ampoule or vial was calculated and cost ratio, percentage of cost variation was calculated.Results: 15 different formulations of bisphosphonates were analyzed and it was found that cost ratio is found to be highest with 60 mg of pamidronate injection and lowest with 10 mg alendronate tablet, also pamidronate 60 mg injection has highest percentage of cost variation (9632%) and lowest cost variation is seen with 10 mg alendronate (35%). Cost ratio of 11 formulations was found to be very high which was >2 while percentage of cost variation of 11 formulations was found to be more 100.Conclusions: This study concludes that there is wide variation in cost of various brands of bisphosphonates in India. The huge price variation creates unnecessary burden leading on the patients resulting in noncompliance which increases the risk of morbidity and mortality. Therefore, there is an urgent need to regulate the cost of various formulations of bisphosphonates which will reduce the financial burden on the patients.
ABSTRACT
Background: Skeletal muscle relaxants are the drugs which reduce unwanted spasm without interfering with consciousness and voluntary movements. The centrally acting muscle relaxants like Diazepam, is known to be GABA mimetics and other antiepileptics like Gabapentin and Pregabalin also act through the release of GABA. This study is done to investigate skeletal muscle relaxant property of these drugs in comparison to Diazepam.Methods: T Models used in the experiment are Grip Strength Test, Rota Rod Method, Beam Walk Test, Photoactometer Test. Animals were divided into 6 groups of 6 rats each: Group 1: Control group treated with normal saline (0.1 ml/10gm), Group 2: Standard-15mg/kg of Diazepam, Group 3:T1-60 mg/kg of Gabapentin, Group 4:T2-10 mg/kg of Pregabalin, Group 5:T3-60 mg/kg of Gabapentin+Diazepam, Group 6:T4- 10 mg/kg of Pregabalin+Diazepam. Mean and standard deviation was calculated for each group. One way ANOVA was used for multiple group comparisons followed by post hoc Tukey’s test for statistical significance between the groups.Results: Treatment with the above test drugs produced significant muscle relaxation and caused decreased fall off, sliding time, increase climbing time and decreased locomotor activity in all models indicating motor incoordination. The results obtained from both standard and test groups showed a highly significant difference in muscle relaxation when compared with the control group.Conclusions: The test drugs showed skeletal muscle relaxant property in rats comparable to Diazepam. In view of these results, it can open a new avenue for these drugs to be used as skeletal muscle relaxants after conducting clinical trials.