Background: Although alcoholism is associated with causation of multiple diseases, alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is the most common cause of mortality. Several drugs are being used in patients with ALD.
Aims and Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate the prescribing pattern of drugs used in patients with ALD.
Materials and Methods: A retrospective, observational study was done by analyzing the medical records of patients with ALD at a tertiary care teaching hospital for 3 months. A total of 146 case records of patients with ALD were reviewed and details such as demographics, specified drugs prescribed with their dose and dosage forms were recorded and analyzed.
Results: Overall, 1,365 drugs were prescribed for 146 patients, out of which hepatoprotective agents were the most commonly prescribed drugs (19.63%) followed by vitamins and minerals (16.63%) and antiulcer drugs (12.60%). The most commonly prescribed antimicrobial drug was cephalosporin (37.7%), diuretic was spironolactone (58.8%), intravenous (i.v.) fluid was 25% dextrose (45.3%) and for treating the complications like hepatic encephalopathy and variceal bleeding were lactulose (46.9%) and propranolol (80.7%), respectively. Chlordiazepoxide was the most common and the only drug prescribed for treating alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
Conclusion: Hepatoprotective agents along with vitamins and minerals were the most commonly prescribed drugs for patients with ALD. Corticosteroids were prescribed comparatively less in our study.
Key words: Alcoholic Liver Disease; Hepatoprotective Drugs; Corticosteroids; Spironolactone; Lactulose; Chlordiazepoxide
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