European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

A COMPARITIVE PROSPECTIVE STUDY OF UTILIZATION PATTERN OF DIFFERENT BRANDS OF METHYLPREDNISOLONE AND PRESDNISOLONE DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Nikitha K.*, Meera V., Mohammed Faisal, Radhika N., Sajeeb T. P. and Dr. Neethu M Shaji.

ABSTRACT

Coronavirus disease [COVID-19] is an infectious disease caused by the novel corona virus. Most of the Patients infected with this virus develop a systemic inflammatory response that can lead to lung injury and multisystem organ dysfunction. Both beneficial and deleterious clinical outcomes have been reported with the use of corticosteroids, mostly Prednisolone and methylprednisolone in patients with pulmonary infections methylprednisolone available as tablets, Intravenous and intramuscular injection, intra articular suspensions branded PREDMET, SOLU-MEDROL, DEPOMEDROL etc. Prednisolone is available as tablets, eye drops branded WYSOLONE, PREDFORTE etc. The aim of this prospective study was to determine the utilization pattern of different brands of the drugs Prednisolone and Methylprednisolone. A total of 60 pharmacies was included in the study. All relevant data were collected and documented in a pretested, predesigned and semi structured questionnaire. About 90.1% of pharmacies was dispensing Prednisolone, 80.32% was dispensing Methylprednisolone and 73.7% was dispensing both the drugs. Prednisolone was distributed as 91.22% tablet, 3.50% oral suspension, 1.75% oral drops, 3.50% eye drops. MethylPrednisolone was distributed as 84.61% tablet, 13.46% injection, 1.93% eye drops. Dispensing brands of prednisolone was Wysolone 122(70.93%), Omnacortil 47(27.33%), Pred-forte 2(1.16%) and Kidpred 1 (0.58%). Dispensing brands of Methylprednisolone was Predmet 83(70.3%), Zempred 10(8.0%), Ivepred 10(8.0%), Medrol 7(5.76%), Dispred 2(1.69%), Solu Medrol 2(1.69%), Med-pred 291.69%) Nucort 1(0.8%), Mobilance 1(0.8%) and Neodrol 1(0.8%). Pharmacies was also dispensing about 3.3% of generic form of Prednisolone and 6.6% of generic form of Methylprednisolone.90.16% of pharmacies was not dispensing generic forms.

Keywords: Coronavirus disease, corticosteroids, prednisolone, methylprednisolone.