The present study was aimed to appropriateness of NSAIDs use with secondary objectives of assessment of co-prescription with gastro-protective agents, the nature and severity of adverse drug reactions and drug-drug interactions with an intention to prevent the inappropriate use of NSAIDs. A prospective study was carried out in 400 In-patients of various departments of the hospital during the 6 months period. Results: Out of 400 patients, 237 were male and 163 were females, in which most of the patients (63.5%) were belonging to age group of 21-50years. The major complaint of the patient was arthritic pain (25.5%). Most of the patients (77%) were prescribed single NSAID as monotherapy in different dosage forms, although some patients were prescribed with combination of Aceclofenac + Paracetamol (13.75%). The preferential COX-2 inhibitors were widely prescribed (84.5%) as compared to non-selective COX inhibitor (15.5%). Among various NSAIDs prescribed, Diclofenac (45.90%) and Aceclofenac (15.96%) were mostly prescribed. NSAIDs were mostly prescribed by parenteral route (36.31%). Most of the patients were co-prescribed NSAIDs with gastro-protective agents (80.5%). In the study, moderate drug interactions were found between NSAIDs and antibiotics and no adverse drug reactions were reported during the study. The study concluded that, prescription of NSAIDs was found to be rational. Education program, counselling program, alertness of community pharmacy regarding OTC drugs can be helpful to minimize harmful effect of the drug to patients.

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In the elderly, one of the most common joint diseases is osteoarthritis (OA). Established risk factors include obesity, increasing age, female sex, knee joint injury and meniscectomy. NSAIDS including selective COX -2 inhibitors have come to play an important role in the pharmacologic management of arthritis and pain. Etoricoxib has been found to be less harmful to the gastrointestinal, renovascular and cardiovascular system. Materials and Methods: Demographic data was collected in detail from all the patients. The site and severity of pain was assessed using the Lequesne Index. The subjects were randomly divided into 2 groups. The first group -GROUP -A was treated with Etoricoxib [90 mg OD for 14 days] and the second group -GROUP -B was treated with Etoricoxib [14 day] and combination of glucosamine and chondroitin [1 month]. The severity of the pain was noted from all the patients before treatment, during 1 st follow up after 1 month, and the 2 nd follow up after 2 months. Results: No patient in both A and B group were in the extremely severe category, while 80% in group A and 60% in Group B were in the moderate to severe category. 20% in Group A and 40% in Group B were in the mild to moderate category after 4 weeks of treatment. After 8 weeks of treatment, 10% in group A and 5% in group B were in the moderate to severe category and 55% in Group A and 28% in Group B were in the mild to moderate category while 35% in Group A and 67% in Group B were under satisfactory joint function category. Conclusion: Etoricoxib 90 mg OD for 3 weeks plus combination of glucosamine and chondroitin for 4 weeks is more effective when compared to Etoricoxib as single therapy.

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