A Drug Utilization Study of Cognition Enhancers in Dementia in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Mumbai

Background: Cognitive decline is one of the important factors undermining the quality of life in geriatric patients. Although the WHO has declared ‘Dementia’ as a priority health condition. Cognitive neuropharmacology is still in its infancy and there is no general consensus on the use of cognit...

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Main Authors: Karan Thakkar, Shaurya Suman, Gauri Billa
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: JCDR Research and Publications Private Limited 2014-05-01
Series:Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://jcdr.net/articles/PDF/4354/7998_CE(RA)_PF1(AG)_F(T)_PFA(P)_PF2(PAG)p.pdf
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author Karan Thakkar
Shaurya Suman
Gauri Billa
author_facet Karan Thakkar
Shaurya Suman
Gauri Billa
author_sort Karan Thakkar
collection DOAJ
description Background: Cognitive decline is one of the important factors undermining the quality of life in geriatric patients. Although the WHO has declared ‘Dementia’ as a priority health condition. Cognitive neuropharmacology is still in its infancy and there is no general consensus on the use of cognition enhancing (CE) drugs in humans. Since drug utilization data of CEs in dementia are scarce, we conducted a study to describe the observed patterns of CE drug use, compare it to the current recommendations and conduct a preliminary cost analysis. Methods: A prospective cross sectional drug utilization study of 100 prescriptions of patients of both sexes and all ages suffering from dementia attending the Neurology and Psychiatry clinics was undertaken as per the WHO – DUS and the STROBE guidelines. Results: In all, the 100 prescriptions contained 322 drugs, out of which, 168 were CE drugs. 38.2% of the drugs were prescribed by generic names. Donepezil, Memantine, Piracetam, Rivastigmine and Gallantamine were prescribed to 76%, 34%, 8%, 6% and 0%, respectively. The PDD/DDD ratio of Donepezil and Memantine were 1.36 and 0.94, respectively. The average cost per prescription was INR 626.29 or USD 9.5. Conclusion: Principles of rational prescribing were followed. Donepezil and Memantine were the most commonly prescribed drugs and hence should be included in the hospital drug schedule. Piracetam should not be prescribed because of doubtful benefits and high cost. Antipsychotics should be used in geriatric dementia patients very judiciously. A major part of the total cost per prescription was borne by the patient.
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spelling doaj.art-99848e6474fd4d27bbab07bbcf4c86a62022-12-21T19:06:21ZengJCDR Research and Publications Private LimitedJournal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research2249-782X0973-709X2014-05-0185HC05HC0810.7860/JCDR/2014/7998.4354A Drug Utilization Study of Cognition Enhancers in Dementia in a Tertiary Care Hospital in MumbaiKaran Thakkar0Shaurya Suman1Gauri Billa2MD Pharmacologist, Grant Medical College and Sir JJ Group of Hospitals, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.Final year MBBS, Grant Medical College and Sir JJ Group of Hospitals, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.MD Pharmacologist, Grant Medical College and Sir JJ Group of Hospitals, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.Background: Cognitive decline is one of the important factors undermining the quality of life in geriatric patients. Although the WHO has declared ‘Dementia’ as a priority health condition. Cognitive neuropharmacology is still in its infancy and there is no general consensus on the use of cognition enhancing (CE) drugs in humans. Since drug utilization data of CEs in dementia are scarce, we conducted a study to describe the observed patterns of CE drug use, compare it to the current recommendations and conduct a preliminary cost analysis. Methods: A prospective cross sectional drug utilization study of 100 prescriptions of patients of both sexes and all ages suffering from dementia attending the Neurology and Psychiatry clinics was undertaken as per the WHO – DUS and the STROBE guidelines. Results: In all, the 100 prescriptions contained 322 drugs, out of which, 168 were CE drugs. 38.2% of the drugs were prescribed by generic names. Donepezil, Memantine, Piracetam, Rivastigmine and Gallantamine were prescribed to 76%, 34%, 8%, 6% and 0%, respectively. The PDD/DDD ratio of Donepezil and Memantine were 1.36 and 0.94, respectively. The average cost per prescription was INR 626.29 or USD 9.5. Conclusion: Principles of rational prescribing were followed. Donepezil and Memantine were the most commonly prescribed drugs and hence should be included in the hospital drug schedule. Piracetam should not be prescribed because of doubtful benefits and high cost. Antipsychotics should be used in geriatric dementia patients very judiciously. A major part of the total cost per prescription was borne by the patient.https://jcdr.net/articles/PDF/4354/7998_CE(RA)_PF1(AG)_F(T)_PFA(P)_PF2(PAG)p.pdfneuropharmacologyanatomical therapeutic chemical classificationdaily defined doseprescribed daily dosealzheimer’s diseasenootropics
spellingShingle Karan Thakkar
Shaurya Suman
Gauri Billa
A Drug Utilization Study of Cognition Enhancers in Dementia in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Mumbai
Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research
neuropharmacology
anatomical therapeutic chemical classification
daily defined dose
prescribed daily dose
alzheimer’s disease
nootropics
title A Drug Utilization Study of Cognition Enhancers in Dementia in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Mumbai
title_full A Drug Utilization Study of Cognition Enhancers in Dementia in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Mumbai
title_fullStr A Drug Utilization Study of Cognition Enhancers in Dementia in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Mumbai
title_full_unstemmed A Drug Utilization Study of Cognition Enhancers in Dementia in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Mumbai
title_short A Drug Utilization Study of Cognition Enhancers in Dementia in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Mumbai
title_sort drug utilization study of cognition enhancers in dementia in a tertiary care hospital in mumbai
topic neuropharmacology
anatomical therapeutic chemical classification
daily defined dose
prescribed daily dose
alzheimer’s disease
nootropics
url https://jcdr.net/articles/PDF/4354/7998_CE(RA)_PF1(AG)_F(T)_PFA(P)_PF2(PAG)p.pdf
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