Polypharmacy.

Psychoses are among the most severe psychiatric disorders. In Schizophrenia there is splitting of perception and interpretation from reality-hallucinations, inability to think coherently. The atypical antipsychotics are widely prescribed based on the perception that they are more effective and produce fewer side effects than the typical antipsychotic. The aim is to study the drug utilization of use of atypical antipsychotics in the inpatient of psychiatry department of a tertiary care teaching hospital. All 131 schizophrenic patients hospitalized during the six month period in 2012 were included in the study. Most commonest antipsychotic prescribed was Olanzapine. In our study antipsychotic polypharmacy 95 (72.5%) was seen in majority of patients. Polypharmacy with atypical antipsychotics is on the rise.

The elderly population is one of the most rapidly increasing populations in the world. Physiological alterations induced by the aging process make these individuals more susceptible to chronic diseases and, consequently, to increased drug utilization. The present study evaluated drug utilization pattern in geriatric medical out patients. A prospective, observational, cross sectional study was done among the geriatric patients attending the Outpatient Department of tertiary care Hospital. This study has shown the patterns of diseases prevalent in geriatric patients, drug use among them and also suggests that drugs to be avoided in elderly are among the most frequent inappropriately prescribed drugs. Prevalence of polypharmacy was high. This indicates that there is a need for multidisciplinary, multifaceted & multisector approach which may improve drug safety & adherence in the elderly. Drug utilization studies of this type may ultimately help in improving the quality of healthcare given to the geriatric patients.