International Journal of Contemporary Surgery
  • Year: 2016
  • Volume: 4
  • Issue: 1

ADR Monitoring of NSAIDs among Orthopaedic Patients in a Tertiary Care Hospital

1Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Santhiram Medical College and General Hospital, NH-18, Nandyal, Kurnool District, Andhra Pradesh

2Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Santhiram Medical College and General Hospital, NH-18, Nandyal, Kurnool District, Andhra Pradesh

*Correspondence author: Dr. K Anantha Babu Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Santhiram Medical College and General Hospital, NH-18, Nandyal, Kurnool District, Andhra Pradesh. India, Email id: ananthabk123@yahoo.com

Online published on 18 February, 2016.

Abstract

The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are among the most widely used of all the drugs. Despite their wide clinical use, their gastro-intestinal toxicity is a major limitation. A number of studies describe NASIDs as the leading causes of adverse drug reactions (ADRs). To augment an adverse drug reaction monitoring system, an active surveillance was planned and a pilot study was started in a tertiary care teaching hospital in AP.

The main aim of this study was to identify the incidence of the ADRs of the NSAIDs among the in-patients of the orthopaedic ward. It also aimed to assess the causality and the severity of the adverse effects with the monitoring of rational prescribing.

A prospective study was done in one hundred and ten orthopaedic in-patients of a tertiary care hospital for 6 months from January-June 2013. The ADRs Pattern were noted with respect to age, gender and drugs involved. The causality of ADRs were assessed by Naranjo's Algorithm.

Among one hundred in-patients 16% developed ADR due to NSAIDs and 1.92% due to Antimicrobial agents (AMAs). The ADRs were more in males (11%) than females (5%). Most prescribed NSAID was Diclofenac (76%), and least was nimesulide (2%). Others were Paracetamol (16%), Ibuprofen (3%) and Etoricoxib (3%). Out of 18 ADRs Tablet (Tab) Diclofenac accounted for maximum number {87.5%, (n=17)} of ADRs, followed by Tab. Paracetamol {12.5% (n=1)}.

The incidence rate of the ADRs in the orthopaedic ward was found to be 18% and the ADRs were mild in nature. This shows that rational drug therapy and better prescription practices had brought down the ADRs to minimal in our tertiary care teaching hospital.

Keywords

Adverse drug reactions, rational drug therapy, NSAIDs