OBJECTIVES:

To identify the prevalence of psychotropic drugs in general medicine and surgical wards and to identify and manage the DRPs associated with the use of psychotropic’s.

METHODS:

A period prevalence study was conducted in the general medicine and surgical wards of a University teaching hospital over a period of six months. All patients admitted to general medicine and surgery wards with at least one psychotropic prescription without a previous history of psychiatric illness were included in the study. All the patients with psychotropic drugs were intensively monitored for the occurrence of any DRPs from the day of admission till the day of discharge. Clinically significant drug related problems along with its management strategies were communicated to the concerned clinicians through the peer clinical pharmacists.

RESULTS:

Of 3000 patients reviewed, 322 were prescribed with 452 psychotropics. Average number of psychotropics per patient was 1.40+0.76(range: 1 – 4). Psychotropic prescriptions rates were relatively more from the non-psychiatrists [n=250 (55.30%) vs n=202 (44.70%)] than the psychiatrists. ADS[n=90 (26.71%)] and pain [n=43 (43.87 %)] were the frequently observed psychiatric and non-psychiatric indications. The frequently prescribed psychotropic classes were benzodiazepines [n=184 (39.06%)] and antidepressants [n=150 (41.78%)]. [n=11 (57.89%)] of the psychotropic fixed drug combinations were by the psychiatrist. The overall incidence of DRPs associated with psychotropic drug was 32.85% ranging from 1 to 3 per patient. The frequently observed DRPs were potential drug-drug interactions [n=71 (63.96%)]. Of the DRPs,[n= 69 (62.16%)]were observed in the prescriptions by the non-psychiatrists.

CONCLUSIONS:

Psychiatric illnesses are the main indication for psychotropic prescriptions and that suggested that the drug were prescribed aptly.