No abstract

This pilot study was done to evaluate the prescribing pattern of insulin and metformin in both monotherapy and combined therapy used in type II diabetes mellitus in Sri Lanka. The study was conducted at community pharmacies and the data was collected for a week. Results shows that total of 67 prescriptions were male 59.7% and 40.2% were female. Individuals of the 50-60 year age category was the most risk group having DM and were prescribed with twice a daily, thrice a daily doses of metformin. Different dosage forms were used but the monotherapy was the more frequent prescription in type II DM. The study specifically signified the importance of using the slow releasing dosage form of metformin instead of double dose.

The usage of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs all over the world is high, despite many regulatory guidelines. Therefore, this study was conducted to quantitative and qualitative analysis of the dispensing pattern of OTC drugs. A cross-sectional study was carried out for seven days at selected pharmacies and data was recorded using data sheets available at outlets. During the study period, 75 registered medicines were dispensed as OTC drugs. Of them, 40% were dispensed in age below 25, 35% in age category 25-45, 16% in the age category 45-65, and 9% over 65 years. Analgesics (15%), and multivitamins (15%), and others such as dental care products (15%) were dispensed in equal percentages. Only 1% of non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs were dispensed as OTC drugs. The highest OTC drugs dispensed in age over 65 years were analgesics and antitussives (29% each) following antipyretics (25%) between 65-45 years age category and analgesics (15%) and antacids (15%) between 45-25 years age category. The most prescribed OTC analgesic was Paracetamol. This study recommended further qualitative analysis of patients' decisions in the usage of OTC drugs related to symptoms.