PATTERN OF DRUGS PRESCRIBED FOR ELDERLY PATIENTS BY PRIVATE PRACTITIONERS OF MODERN MEDICINE IN LUCKNOW, THE CAPITAL OF UTTAR PRADESH

Changes in drug prescribing-pattern in different groups of population and age-related pathophysiological changes may result in altered response of drugs and need proper monitoring to avoid adverse consequences. Polypharmacy is very common in elderly which further increases risk for unwanted effects. Moreover, physicians should be more familiar with the common problems and diseases occurring amongst elderly population and the drugs safe for this age group. Present study has been done to know the pattern of diseases occurring amongst elderly and commonly prescribed drugs for this population. Study-design was cross-sectional and it included private medical practitioners at Lucknow. Patients above 60 years of age attending these physicians were interviewed personally using a questionnaire. Thus, this study describes pattern of medication consumption by elderly patients among community dwelling in urban and rural areas of Lucknow. Out of 112 subjects interviewed, 51.5% elderly were prescribed three or more medications. Overall consumption varied from 1 to 10 different medications per day. Out of all medications prescribed; antihypertensives ranked first followed by analgesics, sedative-hypnotics, antacids and ulcer protectives, anti- diabetes drugs, antianginal drugs, psychotropics, cerebral and peripheral vasodilators. Other drugs prescribed were dietary supplements, calcium, iron, vitamin preparations. Moreover, for male-patients, drugs for prostate problems (e.g., α₁-blockers and 5- α reductase inhibitors) were frequently prescribed. In female- patients, hormonal preparations were prescribed.