Prescribing pattern of acid suppressant drugs in current clinical practice

The most prevailing disease in most of the countries is gastric related problems for which majority of the population prefer acid suppressant agents. The commonest indication for which physicians prescribed acid suppressant drugs are gastro-esophageal reflux disease followed by Dyspepsia followed by peptic ulcer disease followed by with Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and with other drugs. A prospective observational study was conducted to identify and evaluate the appropriateness of acid suppressant drugs in hospitalized patients and also to identify the reason for its use. Case sheets of patients who were prescribed with acid suppressant drugs were included in the study. In the population of 400 patients male (55.75%) were found more than female (44.25%) patients. Most of these drugs were prescribed in the age group of 51-60 years (28%). The Majority of patients on acid suppressant drug therapy suffered from fever (21%). The majority of patients were prescribed with H2 receptor antagonist (49.25%) followed by proton pump inhibitors alone (21.75%) as well as a combination of both (20.25%). Most of the patients received only one (72.75%) than two ASDs (25.55%) in a dosage forms such as injection (52.5%) and tablet (22.75%) respectively. This study found overuse and underuse of acid suppressant drugs in study hospital. The study highlighted the need for a local protocol for rational use of these agents in current clinical practice.