A STUDY ON THE PRESCRIBING PATTERN OF DRUGS USED FOR ARTHRITIS IN POKHARA VALLEY

This study was conducted about the prescription pattern of drugs used in arthritis to obtain information about various antiarthritis drugs prescribing pattern, to calculate the average number of anti-arthritis drugs per prescription and to find out the drug-drug interaction present in the each prescription. The study was carried out in the department of Orthopedics outpatient in Western regional hospital, Pokhara, Nepal. A Prospective, Observational study was carried from March 2017 to August 2017. The data was collected from the prescription and the information was recorded as age, sex, associate illness, laboratory measurements and study of prescription, type of arthritis. The results showed that out of 102 arthritis people enrolled 67(62.7%) were female and 38 (37.2%0 were male. Highest number of attendant were of the age below 50 i.e. is 43. Of which 96 (94.1%) and 6 95.9%) were married and unmarried respectively. Highest number of patients was illiterate 51(50%). Out of which 58 were house wife followed by 23 employed and 21 nonemployed. 12.8% had smoking habit and 13.7% had alcohol consumption habit. 83(81.4%) had no family history and 19(18.6%) had family history of arthritis. Most common types of arthritis observed were OA 71(69.6%), RA 21(20.6%), GA 8(7.8%) and PA 2(2.0%) respectively. As anti gastritis pantaprazole users were 77(75.5%) as highest comparatively.Among pain killers Aceclofenac were 19(18.6%) as highest users. As pain killer gels and ointment Diclofenac users were highest. Calcium 25 (24.55) were highest users as nutritional supplements. Glucosamine was used as most specific drug to treat arthritis were 12 (11.8%). Blood pressure was seen highest complication in these cases. There is the need of useful method of diagnosis of arthritis and prescription drugs as it shows multiple drugs interaction were high comparatively. Key words: Arthritis, Prescribing pattern, Adverse reactions, Drug use patterns, Drug utilization studies