Drug utilization pattern of fixed drug combination of antipyretic and analgesic in paediatrics department of Gauhati medical college and hospital, Guwahati, Assam, India

Binita Singha; Syed Adam Mousum; Mangala Lahkar; Ajoy Borah

doi:10.18203/2319-2003.ijbcp20163250

Authors

Binita Singha Department of Pharmacology, Gauhati Medical College, Guwahati-32, Assam, India
Syed Adam Mousum Department of Pharmacology, Gauhati Medical College, Guwahati-32, Assam, India
Mangala Lahkar Department of Pharmacology, Gauhati Medical College, Guwahati-32, Assam, India
Ajoy Borah Department of Pharmacology, Jorhat Medical College, Jorhat 785001, Assam, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2319-2003.ijbcp20163250

Keywords:

Ibuprofen, Paracetamol, Prescription study, Children

Abstract

Background: Fever and pain are the most common symptoms prompting patients to seek medical attention. This study was planned to study the drug utilization pattern of fixed drug combination of antipyretic and analgesic compared to paracetamol in paediatrics department of Gauhati Medical College and Hospital.

Methods: It was a prescription based cross-sectional study where Prescriptions with fixed dose combination of antipyretic and analgesic and prescriptions with paracetamol were observed. Demographic characteristics such as age, sex and indications were also recorded. The data were analysed for the utilization pattern of antipyretic and analgesic combination and compared with prescriptions with paracetamol alone without any other analgesic combination.

Results: Out of 266 prescriptions screened 110 were prescribed with fixed dose antipyretic- analgesic combination while 156 were prescribed with paracetamol alone. The antipyretic - analgesic combination was composed of paracetamol and ibuprofen. This combination was prescribed in most of the post-operative cases and in cases with pain for various causes. Fever was the most common condition where only paracetamol and no other analgesic were prescribed. Percentage of combination prescribed was highest in children between 10 - 14 years of age and least in infants.

Conclusions: This study shows the increase utilization of antipyretic-analgesic combinations in various conditions and the preference of fixed dose combination over paracetamol increases with increase in age of the paediatric patients.

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