Background: Alcohol dependence is one of the more serious public health issues in the world. It not only affects health but is also a social and economic burden. Pharmacotherapy is the main stay of treatment along with behavioural therapy for alcohol addiction. The present study was done to analyse the prescribing pattern of drugs used in alcohol dependence.Methods: The present study is a retrospective study which was carried out in the Department of Psychiatry, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Medical College, Bengaluru from March 2016 to August 2016. Demographic, disease and treatment details were collected and entered in the case proformas. The results were analyzed using descriptive statistics.Results: A total of 125 prescriptions were analyzed. The most common age group was between 30-60 years with a male predominance (95.2%). 72% of patients were treated for alcohol dependence whereas 28% who had other co morbidities like psychosis and depression were treated appropriately. The most commonly prescribed drugs were Vitamins (74.4%), Benzodiazepines (BZDs) (56.8%), anti-craving drugs (52%), antipsychotics (20%) and anti-depressant drugs (8%). Lorazepam (45.6%) and Baclofen (46.1%) were the most common drugs prescribed among BZDs and Anti-craving drugs respectively. For affective disorders Olanzapine (36%) was the commonest drug prescribed.Conclusions: This study reveals that alcohol dependence is accompanied by other co-morbidities like psychosis, depression and anxiety. Combined therapy of Vitamins, BZDs, Anti-craving drugs along with Antipsychotic or Antidepressant drugs have been prescribed to the patients. Newer anti-craving drugs like Baclofen, Acamprosate and Naltrexone have also been prescribed.

Self medication with analgesics is prevalent worldwide among medical students due to easy availability of drugs. Present study was done to assess Knowledge, Attitude, Practice and Perception of Self Medication of Analgesics among MBBS students at Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Medical College, Bengaluru. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 3 Term MBBS students of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Medical College, Bengaluru in November 2019. A Pre-designed validated questionnaire was used to collect relevant information on self medication of analgesics. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics. 78.4% of 3 term MBBS students practiced self medication with analgesics. Students had some knowledge regarding definition of self medication 84.8%, and side effects of analgesics 75.9%. They had no knowledge regarding dose, duration of treatment timing of drug administration, drug interactions and banned analgesics.Common reason for using analgesic self medication was headache (75.8%) and Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory drugs (80.6%) were commonly used. Analgesics were used for quick relief (67.7%) and source of information was from previous doctor’s prescriptions (64.5%). Students stopped taking analgesics after symptoms disappeared (83.8%). Students agreed that self medication is acceptable for medical students (48.1%). This study has found that self medication with analgesics was common among undergraduate medical students for minor illness. It is necessary to create awareness and educate students regarding dangers of analgesic self medication.

BACKGROUND: Mango ginger (Curcuma amada Roxb.) belongs to Zingiberaceae family has biological activities include antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antiallergic, CNS depressant and analgesic activity. The major chemical components include starch, phenolic acids, volatile oils, curcuminoids and terpenoids like difurocumenonol, amadannulen and amadaldehyde. Pain is often the first indication of disease or injury and a major symptom in many clinical conditions and can significantly interferes with a person's quality of life and general functioning. The standard and test drugs suppress the inflammatory mediators associated with pain. This article brings out the analgesic activity of C. Amada in comparison with aspirin. Therefore aqueous extract of C. amada was evaluated for analgesic activity in animal models of pain. OBJECTIVES: 1. To evaluate rhizomes of Curcuma Amada for analgesic activity in male albino wistar rats and to compare the analgesic activity with aspirin. 2. To Evaluate if combination of Curcuma Amada with aspirin is synergistic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Albino rats are the proven models for analgesic studies. They were obtained from the animal house of DR.B. R. Ambedkar Medical College. Animals were maintained as per CPCSEA guidelines .The aqueous extract of Curcuma Amada was used. Aspirin (100mg/kg) was used as the standard analgesic drug. 4x4 groups of 6 Rats were used to ensure that results obtained were statistically significant using ANOVA test. Analgesic activity will be assessed with the help of following screening methods Acetic Acid Writhing Method using Acetic Acid, Tail Flick Method using the Analgesiometer, Tail Immersion Method using Hot Water (55 0 C) , Hot Plate method using Hot Plate. RESULTS: Aqueous extract of Curcuma Amada significantly suppressed the 1% acetic acid induced writhing response in rats when compared to standard drug aspirin. In the Tail flick and Hot plate test Curcuma Amada increases the latency period of pain (Reaction time). In the Tail immersion test the test drug significantly (P <0.001) reduced pain at 30 min when compared to the standard drug Aspirin at 60 min of oral administration. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSION: We can conclude that, Curcuma Amada possess analgesic activity which can be explained by animal models of pain. Probably, it acts by peripheral and central mechanisms. The combination of Curcuma Amada and Aspirin is synergistic.

BACKGROUND: Mango ginger (Curcuma amada Roxb.) has morphological resemblance with ginger, but imparts mango flavour. According to Ayurveda and Unani medicinal systems, the biological activities include antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antiallergic, CNS depressant and analgesic activity. Hence curcuma amada aqueous extract for analgesic activity was evaluated in pain animal models. Pain is a most common complaint of many medical conditions, and pain control is one of the most important therapeutic priorities. Curcuma Amada suppresses the inflammatory mediators associated with pain. However there is no scientific data suggestive of its analgesic activity. Hence this study was carried out to evaluate its role in central and peripheral models of pain. OBJECTIVE: To Evaluate rhizomes of Curcuma Amada for analgesic activity in male albino wistar rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Albino rats, the proven models for analgesic studies. They were obtained from the animal house of DR.B. R. Ambedkar Medical College. Animals were maintained as per CPCSEA guidelines. The aqueous extract of curcuma amada was used.4x2 groups of 6 Rats were used to ensure that results obtained were statistically significant using ANOVA test. Analgesic activity was assessed with the help of following screening methods. Acetic Acid Writhing Method using Acetic Acid. Tail Flick Method using the Analgesiometer. Tail Immersion Method using Hot Water (55 0 C). Hot Plate method using Hot Plate. RESULTS: Aqueous extract of curcuma amada significantly suppressed the 1% acetic acid induced writhing response in rats when compared to control group (Gum acacia). In Tail flick test and Hot plate test Curcuma Amada increases the latency period of pain (reaction time). In Tail immersion test the test drug significantly (P < 0.001) reduces pain at 30 min when compared to control group at 60 min of oral administration. CONCLUSION: The present findings indicate that Curcuma Amada showed significant analgesic activity may be via peripheral as well as central mechanisms.

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