Assessment of Rational Prescribing of Antihypertensive drug combination in Lagos University Teaching Hospital

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Date
2004-06-01
Authors
Nwoye, E.O.
Oreagba, I.A.
Olayemi, S.O.
Mabodeje, A.F.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Nig. Jnl of Health and biomedical Sciences
Abstract
Purpose: The study aimed to assess prescribing trends of antihypertensive and production of prescriptions containing irrational combinations of antihypertensives and co-prescribed drugs. Methods: Five hundred and fifty four prescriptions, containing antihypertensives, were collected prospectively over a period of twelve months, from the internal medicine clinic of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital and evaluated. Results: the average number of drugs prescribed per encounter was 2.0. Encounters with injections were 0.5%. The percentage of drugs prescribed by generic name was 31.6%. All the drugs prescribed were from the National Essential Drug List. Calcium antagonists were the most frequently used group o f drug (41.3%), followed by Diuretics (33.0%) and Anglotensin-Converting Enzyme inhibitors (ACEIC) (22.4%). Nifedipine (31.9%), Methyldopa (22.4%) and propranolol (20.2%) were the most frequently used individual drugs. Beta-blockers with Calcium antagonists (13.3%), Methyldopa with Diuretics (10.6%) Calcium antagonists with ACEIs (10.3%) were the most frequently prescribed drug combinations. Irrational drug combinations with NSAIDs were observed in 21.8% of the prescriptions. Also beta-blockers were prescribed in 22% of prescriptions for hypertensive / diabetic patients. Conclusion: There is need to educate prescribers on appropriate therapeutic combinations that would provide optimal management of hypertension and associated clinical conditions
Description
Staff publications
Keywords
Antihypertensive , Rational , Drug combination , Drugs , Research Subject Categories::TECHNOLOGY::Bioengineering
Citation
Nwoye, E.O., Oreagba, I.A., Olayemi, s.O. and Mabodeje, A.F. (2004). Assessment of Rational Prescribing of Antihypertensive drug combination in Lagos University Teaching Hospital. Nigeria Journal of Health and Biomedical Sciences, Vol. 3(1).