Background: Potential importance of drug –drug interactions (DDIs) is increasing as polypharmacy becomes more prevalent. Because additional data on the incidence and pattern of potential DDIs among diabetic patients are lacking in India, and supplemental pharmacodynamic or clinical outcome information is needed to address importance of a drug- drug interaction.
Aim and objectives: To identify and analyze the pattern of DDIs in patients being prescribed anti-diabetic drugs in a tertiary care hospital.
Material and Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study was carried out for a period of three months in 200 Type 2 diabetes mellitus (Type 2 DM) patients who were taking at least one antidiabetic agent during the period of past six months, of any age and either sex admitted in medicine ward of a tertiary care teaching hospital. Only one prescription was included for each patient on his/her 3rd day of hospitalization in the ward.
Results: A total of 1217 drugs were prescribed in 200 prescriptions, resulting in an average of 6.1 drugs per prescription. A total of 637 potential DDIs were noted. The majority were seen in middle aged and elderly people. No overall difference was detected in the patients on insulin or metformin therapy taking or not taking additional drugs with the potential to interact. Worse control was found in the group of patients on sulphonylurea therapy taking interacting drugs (P <0.05). This difference was most marked in the group of patients over 60 years of age, who also had the highest intake of potentially interacting drugs (57%; <35 years-37%).
Conclusion: Antidiabetic drugs have numerous interactions. A good practice is to use a drug–drug interaction checker if any questions arise, several are available online. Quality care starts with the clinician obtaining a complete medication list for each patient at the start of each visit.
Keywords: diabetes mellitus, drug interactions, hypoglycemic agents, drug therapy, co-morbidity, polypharmacy
Prescription pattern of medicines in a tertiary care hospital: a cross-sectional study