European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

A STUDY ON THE DISPENSING PATTERN AND TO ASSESS THE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE USE OF OVER THE COUNTER MEDICATION IN PATIENTS BUYING MEDICINES FROM COMMUNITY PHARMCIES IN MANDYA CITY

Zabi Ulla, Sooraj, Anupama Anto, Adithya and Dr. Suresha B. S.*

ABSTRACT

OTC drugs are those drugs which are safe and effective for use by the general public without a doctor’s prescription. It is also called prescription de controlled drugs. These drugs are the non-prescription or over-the-counter drugs. These have little significant pharmacological activity and therefore the physician need not to be very much concerned about their use by the patients themselves. The aim of the study was to determine the dispensing pattern and to assess the knowledge about the use of over the counter medication in patients buying medicine from community pharmacies in Mandya city. Objectives: to determine the drug dispensing pattern of pharmacies without prescription and report illness by the use of OTC drugs and to access the patient knowledge about the use of OTC drugs. Methodology: It was a record based cross sectional study. The research period was about 6 months. The relevant data was collected from community pharmacies by using adequate proforma. Result: Total 600 subjects was analysed; The male subjects were (67.3%) more than female subjects (32.7%). The maximum number of subjects were found in the age group of adults (19-64year). The most commonly dispensed OTC drugs in pharmacy were analgesics (38%), antihistamines (8.6%), analgesics and antipyretics combination (6%), analgesics and antihistamines combination (10%), GI drugs (21%). Out of 600 subjects only 27% were about the side effects of OTC drugs. Conclusion: The most commonly dispensed OTC drugs were analgesics and antihistamines. Only few patients were aware about the contraindications or side effects of the OTC drugs. In this study noted that majority of dispensed drugs belongs to schedule H. It can thus concluded from this study that more awareness of patients and pharmacists about OTC drugs are required to prevent the harmful effects of same.

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