Vol. 7, Issue 10 (2018)

Objective: To analyze the prescribing pattern of anti-hypertensive drugs in a semi urban area by general practitioners.

Methodology: This is an observational study wherein patients suffering from hypertension attending general practitioners in a semi urban area were analyzed. Totally 200 prescriptions were collected and demographic details such as name, age, gender were noted. The prescription data obtained as per proforma was evaluated as per JNC VIII guidelines.

Results: 200 patients were included in the study out of which 57% were females and 43% were males. Mean number of antihypertensive drugs prescribed was 1.58. Most of the patients (54%) were treated with a single antihypertensive drug. Of the patients on combination therapy, 34.5% (69) and 11.5% (23) were on two and three drugs respectively. The use of calcium channel blockers was predominant in monotherapy as well as 2 or 3 drug regimens.

Conclusion: Our study shows that calcium channel blockers were the drugs of choice for hypertensive patients as a single drug therapy and overall utilization and the results were only partly consistent with the JNC VIII guidelines for the treatment of hypertension.