Analysis of irrational fixed dose combinations in the Indian drug market using the WHO guidelines

ABSTRACT

Background: Evaluation of the pattern of fixed dose combinations (FDCs) prescribing among the practitioners in India. Aims and Objectives: Aims and objectives of the study was to find out prevalence, prescribing pattern and rationality of FDCs in Jhalawar district of Rajasthan. Materials and Methods: Photocopies of one thousand prescriptions of general practitioners, containing 800 FDCs were randomly collected from few big pharmacies of Jhalawar district of Rajasthan and analyzed for the different pattern of prescribing and rationalism. Results were expressed as percentages. After excluding the repetitions, the numbers of FDCs were 218, which were considered for final analysis. Results: Out of 218 FDCs, the most commonly prescribed FDCs were of anti-microbial agents followed by anti-inflammatory drugs and anti-hypertensive drugs. The FDCs were maximum from the department of medicine (30.2%), followed by surgery (20.2%) and Obstetrics (16.9%). Out of 218 FDCs, only 13.3% were rational, and rest of the FDCs was irrational. 94% of all FDCs prescribed with brand names. Conclusions: In our study, most of the prescriptions contains irrational FDCs. Physicians have no knowledge about the essential drugs and FDCs. Therefore, physicians and regulators should be educated regularly by seminars and conferences. Government laws should be made mandatory. Implementation of central drug standard control organizations guidelines on industries for manufacture of FDCs must be made compulsory.