EVALUATION OF THE PRESCRIPTION PATTERN AND DRUG INTERACTIONS OF NON-STREOIDAL ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DRUGS IN PATIENTS REFERRED TO TALEGHANI AND IMAM KHOMEINI EDUCATIONAL PHARMACIES IN URMIA IN THE FIRST 6 MONTHS OF 2019

The prescribing pattern of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) has scarcely been studied in Iran. This study aims to evaluate the prescribing pattern of NSAIDs in the prescriptions of the patients who referred to Taleghani and Imam Khomeini educational pharmacies from March 21st to September 22nd, 2019 in order to find a way to reduce their irrational and excessive prescription as well as their serious side effects.

In this retrospective, cross-sectional study all the prescriptions containing NSAIDs from March 21st to September 22nd, 2019 in Taleghani and Imam Khomeini educational pharmacies were analyzed using the Tebyan software and the drug interactions were determined using the Lexicomp application and the data was collected.

Among the overall 47652 prescriptions analyzed in both pharmacies, the most and the least prescribed drug in both pharmacies were the 30 mg/mL ketorolac ampoule and the 250 ml mephenamic acid, respectively. The greatest number of major and moderate interactions between drugs in Imam Khomeini pharmacy were both seen in prescriptions containing the 30mg/mL ketorolac ampoule with the percentages of 41.9% and 32.1%, respectively; and in Taleghani pharmacy the greatest number of both interactions were seen in prescriptions containing the 30mg/1mL ketorolac ampoule with the percentages of 75.2% and 76.6%, respectively.

NSAIDs are widely prescribed and a high number of drug interactions are observed in prescriptions containing these drugs. We can conclude from this study that physicians need more attention and education concerning NSAID drug interactions with each other and with other drugs.