Physicians' knowledge of cost of drugs

To assess physicians' knowledge of cost of commonly used medications. A cross-sectional study done in May 2012 on twenty six [26] physicians [11 Consultants working in Medical units of the three tertiary care hospitals of Peshawar and 15 General Practitioners working in Peshawar city and Cantonment area]. They were asked about the cost of 10 commonly prescribed drugs. Estimates within 25% of the actual costs were considered accurate. Out of 260 responses, 105 [40.4%] responses of the physicians came up with accurate estimates. No significant difference was found between the responses of GPs and the Consultants [64/150 vs. 41/110[p > 0.05]]. Overall, costs of expensive drugs were more accurately estimated than the inexpensive ones [48/104 vs. 57/156 [p < 0.05]]. Physicians consistently overestimated the costs of inexpensive drugs and underestimated the costs of expensive ones [p < 0.05]. Physicians have inadequate knowledge of cost of drugs which may lead to poor medication compliance

Prevalence of depression and the use of antidepressants among third year medical students of Khyber medical college, Peshawar

To evaluate the prevalence of depression and the use of antidepressants among undergraduate medical students. This was a cross-sectional study done in May, 2011 at Khyber Medical College, Peshawar on third year medical students using Zung self-rating depression scale. 29 out of 166 students [17.5%] were revealed having depression. Two out of these 29 students [6.9%] were using antidepressants. Depression is an under-diagnosed and under-prescribed mental illness

Clinical and biochemical efficacy of diltiazem in hyperthyroidism

To evaluate the effect of diltiazem on the adrenergic manifestations of hyperthyroidism and thyroid function tests. This prospective, interventional study included 19 newly diagnosed patients [16 females, 3 males with mean age of 35.31 + 10.36 years] of hyperthyroidism attending the out patient department of Institute of Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine, Peshawar. All patients took diltiazem 30 mg three times a day for 6 weeks. Clinical assessment was done before starting therapy and then serially after 1, 2, 4 and 6 weeks [+3 days] using standardized and modified hyperthyroid symptom score. Serum free T4 measurements were done before starting diltiazem and then serially after 2, 4 and 6 weeks [+3 days] of therapy. Following therapy with diltiazem the hyperthyroid system score decreased significantly at 1, 2, 4 and 6 weeks of therapy. With individual values dropping from 14.42 to 12.89 pmol/L after 1week [P < 0.05], to 11.21, 10.78 and 10.26 pmol/L after 2, 4 and 6 weeks, respectively [P < 0.001]. Serum free T4 decreased from 33.29 pmol/L to 32.77, 31.86 and 31.50 pmol/L after 2, 4 and 6 weeks [P > 0.05]. Diltiazem effectively controls the clinical manifestations of hyperthyroidism. It also causes some decline in free thyroxine levels

Biochemical effect of diltiazem in hyperthyroidism

To evaluate the effect of diltiazem on thyroid function tests. This prospective, interventional study was conducted on 19 newly diagnosed patients of hyperthyroidism attending the out patient department of Institute of Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine, Peshawar. All patients took diltiazem 30 mg three times a day for 6 weeks. Serum free thyroxine [FT4] measurements were done before starting diltiazem and then serially after 2, 4 and 6 weeks [+ 3 days] of therapy. FT4 decreased from 33.29 +/- 7.77 pmol / L to 32.77 +/- 8.15 pmol / L after 2 weeks [P = 0.509], to 31.86 +/- 8.15 pmol / L after 4 weeks [P = 0.138] and then to 31.50 +/- 7.80 pmol / L after 6 weeks [P = 0.137]. Diltiazem has some although not significant biochemical effectiveness in decreasing the thyroid hormone levels after 4-6 weeks of therapy

Clinical efficacy of diltiazem in hyperthyroidism

To evaluate the effect of diltiazem on the adrenergic manifestations of hyperthyroidism. This prospective, interventional study included newly diagnosed patients with untreated hyperthyroidism attending the out patient department of Institute of Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine, Peshawar. All patients took diltiazem 30 mg three times a day for 6 weeks. Clinical assessment was done before starting therapy and then serially after 1, 2, 4 and 6 weeks [+3 days] using standardized and modified hyperthyroid symptom score [HSS] including excessive sweating, trembling hands, heat intolerance, easy fatigability, nervousness, diarrhoea, increased appetite, palpitation and dyspnoea on exertion. This study was conducted on 19 patients [16 females and 3 males, mean age 35.31 +/- 10.36 years] HSS decreased from 14.42 +/- 2.71 [mean +/- SD] to 12.89 +/- 3.39 after one week [P<0.05], and then to 11.21 +/- 3.64, 10.78 +/- 3.35 and 10.26 +/- 2.95 after 2, 4 and 6 weeks, respectively [P<0.001]. Diltiazem effectively controls the clinical manifestations of hyperthyroidism