PRESCRIBING PATTERNS OF ANALGESICS IN A TERTIARY CARE TEACHING HOSPITAL IN RANGAREDDY DIST TELANGANA

To evaluate the variety of analgesics prescribed after surgery along with the doses administered and routes of administration. A prospective observational study conducted for 4 months in the inpatient surgery and orthopedic departments of Malla Reddy hospital, a 373Bedded tertiary care teaching hospital. All patients who have under gone surgery were included in the study. Postoperative analgesics prescribed along with the route of administration and doses were noted in a specially designed proforma. 187 patients were included in the study who were prescribed with 386 analgesics. Post-operative analgesics are prescribed in all the patients who undergone surgery. For 83.42% (156) patients injectable analgesics were prescribed immediately after surgery and in 22.45% (42) patients oral analgesics were prescribed immediately after surgery. Diclofenac was the most commonly prescribed among the injectable analgesics (36.59%). Tramadol+ Acetaminophen was most commonly use oral analgesic (39.81%). The use of analgesics depends upon the severity of pain. In case of mild pain, single analgesics are commonly used where as for moderate and severe pain two or more analgesics are used. The study summarizes that, cost of therapy can be reduced by changing of prescription drugs from brand name to Generic name; also this plays an important role in Rational use of Drug (Proper dispensing of drugs, Cost, safety and efficacy). By using pain intensity scales, pain assessment should be practiced so that right choice of analgesics can be prescribed according to the intensity of pain.