DRUG UTILIZATION AND PRESCRIBING PATTERN OF GLAUCOMA IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL OF DEHRADUN

Abstract

Glaucoma is a condition in which distinctive changes occur in the optic nerve and visual field. In glaucoma intraocular pressure (IOP) is raised that compresses and damages the optic nerve. As the optic nerve is damaged, it fails to carry the visual information to the brain which induce clinically progressive loss of peripheral visual field and ultimately loss of vision. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To Evaluate the drug utilization and prescribing pattern of drugs used for treatment of glaucoma, to analyze current prescribing trends in anti-glaucoma drugs, to perform a drug utilization study, to identify drugs per prescription, category wise identification of drugs prescribed, mono therapy vs combination therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study was a prospective, observational study carried out in 105 patients at Shri Mahant Indiresh Hospital, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India. RESULTS: Out of total 105 patients, 68 were males (64.76%) and 37 were females (35.24%). The most common age group was 46-60 years. Patients were mostly affected by primary open angle glaucoma (95.23%) then angle closer glaucoma (4.76%). Total 184 drugs were prescribed in the treatment of glaucoma. Average number of drugs per prescription was 1.75. Combination therapy was prescribed in 51.43% patients & most common used combination therapy was combination of Brimonidine+ timolol (81.48%) followed by Bimatoprost+ timolol (18.52%). Monotherapy was used in 48.57% patients in which drug dorzolamide (22.31%) was prescribed mostly which is belongs to the category of carbonic anhydrase inhibitors followed by timolol (19.23%) (β- blockers) which was second line choice of drug. Generic drugs were mostly prescribed in 77 patients (73.33%) followed by 28 patients (26.66%) were brand names. CONCLUSION: The prescription analysis of glaucoma patients concluded that monotherapy with dorzolamide was the first line choice for glaucoma therapy and timolol was found to be the second line choice. Timolol+ brimonidine was the mostly prescribed combination of drug. It also showed that all drugs were prescribed in their generic name instead of brand name.