Abstract
CURRENT TRENDS IN DRUG USAGE FOR RELIEVING PAIN IN ORTHOPEDICS DEPARTMENT IN HEALTH CARE SECTOR

Introduction: For promoting and evaluating rational use of drugs, regular assessment of drug use pattern in a hospital is required. Ill which is defined by disabling caused by accompaniment of many medical conditions is known as ‘Pain’. There are many drugs used for treating pain, which includes, anesthetics, analgesics like NSAIDS, opiods, muscle relaxants, COX inhibitors etc. Aims and Objectives: To evaluate the trends of drug use for relieving pain in orthopedics department. To evaluate the flow of drugs and their appropriateness in respect to therapeutic approach. Materials and Methods: Present study was carried out in RVS Multi-specialty Hospitals, Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh, India, in the departments of orthopedics of both pediatrics and adults. The study was carried out for about 4 months during the academic period of 2017-2018. Results and Discussion: Overall study population collected and represented with complete data required for the study were of 803. Among those, 96 (11.95%) were given with opioid analgesics, 183 (22.78%) were given with selective NSAIDs, 252 patients were prescribed with non-selective NSAIDs, 220 patients were prescribed with PPIs, 52 (6.47%) of study population were given with muscle relaxants. Conclusion: It is concluded by the observations that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are of more preferable drug for maintaining pain in patients. NSAIDs as reported with many side effects, some with life threatening, measures should be taken for carrying out regular drug utilization reviews in the hospital settings.