EVALUATION OF CORTICOSTEROID USE PATTERN IN STEROID RESPONSIVE DERMATOLOGICAL CONDITIONS

Background: Skin diseases account for 2% of the Out Patient Department based consultations in general practice worldwide, which includes diseases like, Dermatitis, Eczema, Acne, Urticaria, Psoriasis, skin allergy etc. Corticosteroids are one of the most commonly prescribed drugs in the skin diseases. Collection of data on the utilization of drugs at the hospital outpatient level has been shown to be an effective tool to constitute guidelines for improving utilization patterns. Objectives: Present study was designed to study utilization pattern of corticosteroid drugs with special emphasis on their adverse effects in a tertiary care teaching hospital. Materials and Methods: Prescriptions from department of dermatology were evaluated to know current trends. Results: Out of total 756 patients, 56.34% were male and 43.65 % were females. Corticosteroids were most commonly prescribed for Eczema (27.38%). 28.43 % of the drugs were prescribed from WHO essential drugs list. Corticosteroids were most commonly prescribed by topical route (86.48%). Diagnosis was included in 92.72 % of the prescriptions, while strength of the topical corticosteroidal was mentioned in 84.78 % of the prescriptions. Strength of the topical corticosteroidal was mentioned in 84.78 % of prescriptions. High potency topical corticosteroids were prescribed most frequently (63.72%). Total 32 steroid related adverse drug reactions were reported, Prednisolone was most commonly associated with adverse drug reactions. Conclusions: Present study reports use of High potency corticosteroids more frequently than others and emphasizes need of rational and complete prescribing of steroids in dermatology.