STUDY OF THE ANTICONVULSANT POTENTIAL OF LEAVES OF CLITORIA TERNATEA LINN. IN PENTYLENETETRAZOLE AND MAXIMUM ELECTROSHOCK SEIZURE INDUCED-CONVULSIONS IN EXPERIMENTAL ANIMALS

ABSTRACTObjectives: To study the anticonvulsant potential of leaves of Clitoria ternatea Linn. in maximal electroshock seizure (MES) and pentylenetetrazole(PTZ)-induced convulsion in experimental animals.Methods: The anticonvulsant potential of the ethanolic extracts of C. ternatea Linn. (EECT) was tested in the MES and PTZ models, seizures wereinduced, respectively, by delivering electroshock of 50 mA for 0.2 s via a pair of transauricular electrodes using an electro-convulsiometer and byinjecting 80 mg/kg intraperitoneally PTZ. For MES model, parameters measured were the duration of hindlimb tonic extension (HLTE), total recoverytime, and percentage protection. For the PTZ model, parameters measured were the duration of time taken for the onset of clonic convulsions, durationof clonic convulsions, percentage reduction of clonic phase, and the mortality percentage.Results and Observation: The EECT at both the test doses (200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg) reduced the duration of HLTE and total recovery time, andincreased the percentage protection from MES-induced convulsions, suggesting a dose-dependent anticonvulsant effect of EECT on MES-inducedseizures. The extract also produced a dose-dependent anticonvulsant effect on PTZ-induced seizures in albino mice as suggested by prolongation ofthe latency of clonic convulsion, reduction in the duration of convulsion and seizure score.Conclusion: The present study concludes that the EECT leaves have an anticonvulsant effect on PTZ and MES-induced convulsion in albino mice.Keywords: Antiepileptic, Clitoria ternatea Linn., Ethanolic extract, Maximal electroshock, Pentylenetetrazole, Seizure score

Pattern of adverse drug reactions reported at a tertiary care teaching hospital in northern India

Background: Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are among the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in hospital setup. This study was conducted with the aim of understanding the pattern and occurrence of ADRs to minimize their risk and safeguard public health.Methods: This study is a retrospective analysis of pattern of ADRs reported at ADR monitoring centre (AMC) in a tertiary care hospital. A total of 207 spontaneous ADR reports collected over a period of 18 months were analysed for pattern and type of reactions, demographic profile of patients, organ system affected by ADRs, causative drugs, route of drug administration, severity of reaction, their outcome, management and causality assessment.Results: Most common age group affected by ADRs was 41-50 years with almost equal involvement of male and female gender. Cutaneous reactions involving skin like rashes and itching were most common ADRs. The most common causative drug for ADRs were antimicrobials agents like Penicillin and Cephalosporin group of antibiotics. Orally administered drugs were most commonly involved in causing ADRs. Most of the ADRs belonged to Type A category, were non-serious and moderate in severity. Most of the patients recovered from the ADRs on stopping the suspected drug. On assessing the causality, most of the ADRs were probable with the suspected drugs.Conclusions: Most of the patients recover from ADRs with appropriate and timely intervention, but it is important to understand the pattern and occurrence of ADRs for patient safety and this is possible only with an effective and robust pharmacovigilance system

GENERIC DRUG: PRESCRIBER’S PERSPECTIVE

Objective: Knowledge of doctors and their understanding of generic drugs could facilitate in recognizing potential barriers to larger generic medicine prescriptions. Hence, the primary objective of this study was focused to explore knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of doctors toward generic medicines. Methods: It is a cross-sectional questionnaire-based study. The study participants are the doctors working in the hospital during the study period (2016–2017). The questionnaire designed for this study comprised of thirty-five questions related to the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of generic medicine and about demographic details of the participants. Results: A total of 86 questionnaires were distributed among the health care professionals and the response rate is 37%. The majority of doctors who participated in this survey perceived that generic medicine is effective, safe and need to have the same active component, dose and bioequivalent as the brand name medicines. Most of the doctors (72%) were of the view that generic drugs were manufactured in poor quality than branded medicines. More than three-quarters of doctors (78%) prescribed generic drugs. Conclusion: Majority of the participants had an honest angle about the efficaciousness and safety of generic and though they sometimes prescribe generic medicine, however a high range of doctors (72%) were of the opinion that generic was of poorer quality than brand medicine. To have a better understanding of the generic drug, the doctor must be well informed about the generics during their academic career resulting in savings to healthcare budgets

PATTERN OF MEDICATION USE AMONG ELDERLY INPATIENTS IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL OF NORTHEAST INDIA

Objectives: The objective of the present study was to assess the pattern of medication use among elderly inpatients of internal Medicine Wards and to evaluate inappropriate prescribing with the help of Beers criteria 2019. Methods: It was a retrospective hospital data-based study. Data were obtained from treatment charts of elderly inpatients stored in the Medical Records Department. Total 236 treatment record charts of patients ≥60 years of either sex was obtained from the period of July 2015 to December 2015 and the information were noted in predesigned pro forma. Results: The mean±SD age of the patients was 69.07±7.72 years with male preponderance (58.5%). Maximum number of patients were having respiratory disorders (57.6%), followed by kidney diseases (20.8%), cardiovascular diseases (18.6%), and so on. A total of 2683 drugs were prescribed with average number of 10.68±4.74 drugs per prescription. Only 363 formulations were prescribed by their generic names and 29.1% drugs were prescribed as fixed dose combinations. Polypharmacy was seen in 91.5% and 39%, respectively, in hospital stay and during discharge. About 60.5% drugs were prescribed from the National list of essential medicine. Total 57 drugs were found to be potentially inappropriate. About 22% patients received at least one drug which was potentially inappropriate according to Beers criteria and around 14% drugs were prescribed inappropriately. Conclusion: This study suggests that use of potentially inappropriate medications is common in elderly patients, some of them associated with high degree of risk in terms of worsening of the co-morbidity or drug-drug interactions. There is a need for nationwide assessment and strategies that may reduce or overcome such high prevalence