Indian Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology

159-163

Authors: Palvi Kudyar*,Shivani Rani,Pavan Malhotra

Introduction: Self-medication the use of medication by a patient on his own initiative is increasing widely due to easy accessibility and availability of vast knowledge as a source of information about various drugs more so in the youth. This practice is larger in healthcare students and if used irrationally can lead to various adversities including resistance for drugs. Objective: Aim of the study is to assess the prevalence, knowledge, attitudes & practices towards self medication among nursing students in Acharya shri Chander College of medical sciences, Jammu. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among first year, second & third year nursing students using a 16 questions questionnaire comprising of knowledge, attitude & practice related queries. The responses were recorded and assessment was made based on them. Results: The prevalence of self-medication was high in the study population, with most people relying on previous prescriptions as drug source, using self medications for quick relief with risk of ADR being the most common cause of avoidance. Antipyretics were most rampantly used as self medication but there is lack of sufficient knowledge about the same. Though, the responders exhibit positive attitude and yearn to bring about change in the scenario with alteration of certain policies & regulations. Conclusion: There is a rise in the practice of self-medication among nursing students with lack of knowledge but positive attitude towards the same.

170-175

Authors: Nazima Yunus Mirza*,Barna Ganguly

Self-medication is widely practiced everywhere in the world. The drug for self medication has proven efficacy and safety for short-term use in minor illnesses but there is the potential for misuse and abuse of them. A cross sectional survey was conducted by visiting 800 houses of Anand district of Gujarat. The details regarding self medication were inquired which include the medical conditions for which they used, availability of Fixed Dose Combinations (FDCs), previously prescribed medicines taken as self medication, sources, reference & reasons for self medication. The Knowledge of the study participants regarding Self medication was inquired by revealing the history of illness in past six months. Ethics Committee approval was taken prior to the study. A total of 501 without prescription medicine formulations were found in 245 (30.63%) houses, more in the urban area (38.25%) than the rural (23%). The common conditions for self medication were body ache, arthritis and fever (36.53%). The commonest source was pharmacy stores whereas family, friends or relatives were commonest sources of information for self medication. The Self decision was taken for 32.93% of medicines. Total 43 medicines prescribed earlier were used as self medication for other family member including 12 preparations for pediatric use. Only 126 participants had 222 illness episodes in past six month. Of them 18 study respondents self medicated. Half of the respondents were having the knowledge regarding medicine. There is a need of emphasizing on proper awareness and education related to self-medication.

179-186

Authors: Bhavani V,Nagabushan H*,Bhagyavathi H. D

Objectives: To compare the effectiveness and tolerability of flunarizine and amitriptyline in migraine prophylaxis. Also to assess the disability associated with migraine using Migraine Disability Assessment Test (MIDAS) and Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6) questionnaires. Materials and Methods: The study was a prospective observational, open-label, comparative study, conducted for six months among migraine patients attending Tertiary Care Hospital, Mandya. Patients were prescribed either Amitriptyline 25 mg or flunarizine 10 mg OD for three months. Effectiveness was assessed by the number of episodes of migraine attacks, pain severity score on Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), tolerability of adverse reactions reported and disability assessed using MIDAS and HIT-6 questionnaires. Results: Out of 103 patients, 55 were prescribed Amitriptyline and 48 patients flunarizine. 49.5% of patients were between 18 to 30 years of age. At the end of three months of treatment, the frequency and severity of headaches decreased from baseline in both the groups. The overall percentage of responders with >50% reduction from baseline in number of migraine episodes and pain severity together were 67.3% and 50% in amitriptyline and flunarizine groups respectively. There was reduction in MIDAS and HIT-6 scores in both groups, without significant difference between the groups. Both the drugs were well tolerated, with most common adverse effects being dry mouth, somnolence, and constipation. Conclusion: Both amitriptyline and flunarizine are effective in prophylaxis of migraine, with significant reduction in number of episodes and severity of headache from baseline to end of treatment. However, Amitriptyline had a higher overall responder rate when compared to Flunarizine, with similar tolerability profile.

191-194

Authors: Naresh Naresh,Dinesh Dinesh*,Anjna Sharma

Introduction: Pain and inflammation are a day to day affliction for all living beings. Mankind has for years been trying to relieve the agony of pain & inflammation through various means with a large amount of success. Still we have not been able to produce the ideal analgesic or the ideal anti-inflammatory drug. The objective of this study was to evaluate a saponin, albichinoside, with respect to its ability to relieve pain and /or show anti-inflammatory activity. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on rats. The saponin was evaluated for its effects on acute, sub-acute, chronic and immunological inflammation by using standard anti-inflammatory study protocols. Results: The test substance showed significant inhibition of acute, sub-acute and chronic inflammation produced by immunological and non-immunological methods in rats. These activities were qualitatively less as compared to indomethacin. This activity was like that of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents. Conclusion: The test substance has moderate anti-inflammatory activity which could be by means of inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis and the complement.

198-201

Authors: Shikha Jaiswal,Tikam Singh Dhruw*,Rajesh Hishikar,Raka Sheohare,Ajay Halwai

Objective: Pharmaceutical promotional activities create potential for inappropriate prescribing practices without necessarily benefiting the patients but contributes to increased health care costs if prescriber is not aware of WHO criteria for ethical medical drug promotion 1988.So this study was conducted with objective to assess the knowledge of medical post graduate students about WHO criteria for promotional drug literature. Materials and Methods: This observational study was conducted in the various departments of Pt. J. N. M. Medical College & associated Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Memorial Hospital Raipur (C.G.). 100 medical post graduate students were given a promotional drug literature & were asked to evaluate it according to WHO Criteria on prescribed proforma. Results: 33% Medical Post Graduate students were aware of WHO criteria. 14% students evaluated importance of reference of scientific literature. 29% evaluated importance of name and address of manufacturer or distributor. 33% evaluated necessity of dosage form or regimen. 70% evaluated the importance of active ingredients. 76% students evaluated the importance of other ingredients or adjuvant known to cause problem. 80% students evaluated the importance of major drug interactions. 95% students evaluated the importance of the amount of active ingredients per dosage form. 96% students evaluated importance of drug related precautions, contraindications and warnings. 98% evaluated the importance of side effects and major adverse drug reactions. 100% students evaluated the importance of brand name and approved therapeutic uses. Conclusion: The study showed that medical post graduate students have little knowledge about WHO Criteria of promotional drug literature. They require constant education regarding WHO guidelines as these brochures often influence prescribing behaviours of physicians.

207-210

Authors: Galanki Vasantha,A Venkatesham*,CH Dayakar

Lannea coromandelica Houtt have multiple pharmacological activities including anti-inflammatory, aphrodisiac hypotensive, anti microbial, ulcerative stomatitis, wound healing, leprosy, gout, elephantiasis and cholera. Therefore, the present study is taken up to evaluate the hypolipidemic activity of ethanolic leaf extract of L.coromandelica. The ethanolic leaf extract was evaluated for its acute toxicity (2000mg/kg) and for hypolipidemic activity (100 and 200 mg/kg) in Triton X-100 (100mg/kg, i.p) induced model for 7 days. However, the obtained statistical data indicated a significant decrease in the total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, VLDL cholesterol and increase in the HDL cholesterol, with reference to the standard drug Atorvastatin (10mg/kg,p.o). These results revealed that L. coromandelica has beneficial effect in reducing the blood lipid levels indicating its efficient hypolipidemic activity.