PRESCRIBING PATTERNS OF NON-STEROIDAL ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DRUGS IN OUTPATIENT CLINICS AT ROYAL REHABILITATION CENTER IN KING HUSSEIN MEDICAL CENTER

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this paper is to analyze the prescribing patterns for both conventional and non-conventional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) with concomitant gastro-protective agents , at the outpatient clinic at Royal Rehabilitation Center (RRC) in King Hussein Medical Center (KHMC) in Jordan. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted at the outpatient clinic pharmacy in RRC. A total of 25,692 prescriptions were reviewed. Collected data includes: percentage of each type of NSAIDs, dosage form, percentage share for each selective and non-selective NSAID, and concomitant therapy with gastroprotective agent. Results: 52% of the collected prescriptions contain NSAIDs. 76% of the prescriptions are for women and 24% are for men. Age of patients included in the prescription ranges between 16 and 80 years, with a mean of 59.3± 15.8 years. Indications for NSAIDs are 58.3% for osteoarthritis, 12.1% for rheumatoid arthritis, and 20.1% for orthopedics pain. Additionally, 96.4% of prescriptions are for conventional NSAIDs, while only 3.6% prescriptions are for the selective COX-2 inhibitors. Furthermore, diclofenac topped the list with 83.74% of prescriptions of NSAIDs. Concomitant therapy with gastroprotective agents was reported in 71.2% of prescriptions. Famotidine is the most prescribed gastroprotective agents followed by antacid and omprazole.