Background: It is imperative to evaluate and monitor the drug use patterns from time to time and make suitable modifications in prescribing patterns to increase the therapeutic benefit and decrease the adverse effects to optimize the medical services to the patients. Keeping this scenario in mind, the present study was undertaken. Aims and Objectives: To evaluate pattern of drug use in ENT (ear, nose, throat) outpatient department (OPD) of a rural tertiary care teaching hospital using WHO core drug prescribing indicators. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was carried for 3 months in the ENT OPD of SRTR Government Medical, Ambajogai, Beed, Maharashtra, India. Data were collected from the prescriptions written by treating surgeons and interviewing patients regarding their understanding of dosage forms. Results: A total of 3342 drugs were prescribed through 855 prescriptions with average number of drugs per prescription being 3.90 and average number of 2.5 drugs dispensed per prescription. Majority (59.64%) of the patients were male. Antibiotics were the most frequently prescribed drugs (24.86%) followed by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (23.60%), gastroprotective agents (22.55%), and antihistaminics (19.92%). Antibiotics were prescribed in 831 prescriptions (97.19%). Most common route of drug administration was oral (97.75%) followed by topical. Drugs were mostly (80%) prescribed by brand names. Conclusion: The present study highlights the problems of polypharmacy, overuse of brand names, and symptomatic rather than definitive approach toward patient management. Interventions to rectify overprescription of antibiotics, use of brand names, inadequate labeling of drugs are necessary to improve rational drug use. Standard treatment guidelines, hospital formulary, and educational intervention become essential to modify this behavior to benefit the patient.

Background: To study drug prescription pattern in dental OPD of Government Dental College and Hospital. Methods: 100 prescriptions were screened & analyzed as per the study parameters from OPD of Government Dental College & Hospital, Aurangabad. Groups of drugs commonly prescribed, like antibiotic, analgesics & others prescription were recorded. Results: Most common groups of drugs prescribed by dental surgeons were NSAIDs, antimicrobials, antiseptics and multivitamins. NSAIDs- 86%; Antimicrobials- 85%; Antiseptics- 8.6%; Multivitamins- 12.3%. The average number of drugs prescribed per patient was 3 and the average number of antimicrobial prescribed per patient was 1. Conclusions: For rational prescribing of drugs there is a need of mass-awareness amongst dental surgeons about the good prescribing by following 6 steps of WHO program on rational use of drugs. [Int J Basic Clin Pharmacol 2013; 2(1.000): 69-70

Objective A study of the utilization pattern of pre-anesthetic medications in major surgical procedures.Material and methods A cross-sectional, pharmacoepidemiological study was conducted among patients undergoing surgical procedures in routine or emergency conditions under general anesthesia. The utilization of pre-anesthetic medicines in all patients was reported.ResultsA total of 110 patients (mean age - 42.36 years; 57.27% males) were enrolled. The major (>10%) indications for surgery were carcinoma/tumor - 25 (22.73%), perforation peritonitis - 20 (18.18%), and intestinal obstruction - 11 (10%). All patients received ranitidine plus metoclopramide. Injections of ondansetron, midazolam, pentazocin, anticholinergic agents, and fentanyl were used in 103 (93.64%), 103 (93.64%), 92 (83.64%), 84 (76.36%), and 23 (20.91%) patients, respectively. The dosage of ondansetron was 4 mg in 95 patients (86.36%), while 89.09% patients received 1 mg of midazolam. In 86 patients (78.18%), pentazocine was used in a 15 mg dose. Among the anticholinergic agents, glycopyrrolate was used in 76 patients (69.09%). Glycopyrrolate was used in a 0.2 mg dose in 74 patients (97.37%). The major indications for the use of fentanyl were carcinoma - 8 (34.8%), perforation peritonitis - 4 (17.4%), and surgery for intestinal obstruction - 3 (13%).ConclusionThe administration of ondansetron, midazolam, and pentazocin is very common (>80% patients) as pre-anesthetic medication. Glycopyrrolate was the preferred anticholinergic agent. In cancer patients, the use of fentanyl is common.

Background: To study drug utilization of anticancer drugs in cancer outpatient department (OPD) of Government Medical College, Aurangabad. Methods: Five hundred and twelve prescription records were screened and analyzed as per the study parameters from cancer OPD of Government Medical College and Hospital, Aurangabad. Commonly used anticancer drugs were recorded; furthermore, different types of carcinomas were noted. Results: Age group of patients was in between 30 and 70, 267 were females and 245 were male patients. The most common type of carcinoma was carcinoma of the breast (17.9%). Carboplatin was the most commonly used anticancer drug (26.56%). The average number of anticancer drugs received per patient was three. Conclusion: WHO suggested drug utilization studies are needed in every health care setting. For a developing country like India, National Drug Policy and Drugs and Therapeutic Committee are a must.

Squamous cell carcinoma arising from tissue affected by chronic lymphedema is rare, though it is recognized that a variety of malignant tumors can arise in chronic congenital or acquired lymphedema. We describe, a case of scrotal and penile squamous cell carcinoma arising in a patient with a history of chronic scrotal and penile lymphedema of filarial origin. We here discuss the management and possible etiology of this unusual case.