PRESCRIPTION ANALYSIS AND MONITORING OF ADVERSE DRUG REACTIONS OF ANTICANCER AGENTS IN TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Objective: Cancer being a global threat and deadly disease, necessitate the use of anticancer agents. Hence, continuous drug utilization evaluation studies and Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) reporting should be carried out in the oncology departments of health care systems. The objective of the study was to identify various types of cancer, assess commonly prescribed anticancer agents using WHO prescribing indicators and report ADRs associated with the anticancer treatment. Materials and Methods: An ambispective observational study was conducted for a period of 6 months in the oncology daycare and in-patient department. All patients receiving at least a single anticancer agent of all age groups of either sex were included in the study. Data was collected in a self-designed patient profile form from the medical records department. Information on drug utilization patterns and ADRs were studied. Results: Breast cancer was the most prevalent cancer observed with more preponderance in females. Paclitaxel was the most commonly used anticancer agent, followed by carboplatin and cisplatin. Granisetron was the widely used adjuvant drug. Only 57.86% of drugs were taken from the essential drug list (EDL), which was suboptimal compared to other drug utilization studies. Only 16% of patients developed ADRs. Anemia and weakness were the most commonly reported ADRs. Conclusion: Only 57.86% of drugs were prescribed from the essential drug list. ADRs caused by anticancer agents can be reduced with rational and judicious preventive measures.