"STUDY OF DRUG-DRUG INTERACTIONS IN INPATIENTS ADMITTED TO DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL MEDICINE AT A TERTIARY CARE TEACHING HOSPITAL, BALLARI KARNATAKA"

Background: Drug can be useful tools in the prevention and treatment of symptoms and diseases, but if not use properly, they may be harmful and cause new symptoms. Clinically significant drug interactions can occur when two or more drugs are taken in combination. Objectives: To study potential Drug -Drug interactions in inpatients medication charts in general medicine department of a tertiary care teaching hospital in Ballari. Methodology: The study period was 6 months. Data of all the subjects prescribed with more than two drugs. Results and Discussion: A total of 220 prescriptions were analyzed of which 150(68.18%) cases were identified with DDIs and 70(31.82%) were without DDIs .Among 150 patients 124(56.36%) were males and 96(43.64%) were females. In correlation higher prevalence rate of DDI among males (62.70%).Out of 150 cases a majority of DDI were found frequently in the age group of 59-68(20.667%). A total of 676 DDIs were obtained from 150 cases. From these 97(14.35%) were of Major severity, 434(64.20%) were of moderate severity and 145(21.45%) of minor severity. Drugs with potential DDIs identified, followed by anti-platelets (n=154), Anti-diabetic (n=110). Among 150 cases Pharmacokinetic outcome was identified in 172 DDIs, Pharmaco-dynamics outcome was indentified in 435 DDIs and 69 were Non specified interactions. Among 150 patients there were 55(25%) with Cardiovascular diseases,53(24.09%) with Renal disorders,32(14.55%) with Respiratory disorder, 22(10%) with Central nerves system disorder, 21(9.55%) with Endocrinal disorder, 16(7.27%) with GI, 10(4.59%)with Blood disorder, 7(3.18%) with Hepatic disorder, 20(0.9%) with Immune system disorders and 2(0.9%) were Others