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Background: Pharmacovigilance is the science and activities relating to detection, monitoring, assessment, understanding and prevention of adverse effects or any other drug related problem from any pharmaceutical products. The core purpose of pharmacovigilance is to enhance patient care and generate the evidence based information on safety of medicines. The objective of present study was to evaluate the knowledge, attitude and practices of the healthcare professionals about pharmacovigilance and to assess the reasons for underreporting of ADRs.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted by administering KAP questionnaire to the healthcare professionals. There were 22 multiple choice questions. Ten related to knowledge, 5 related to attitude, and 6 related to practice. One question was asked to determine the reasons for underreporting of ADRs. The performance in each category was graded as good, average and poor if the number of participants giving correct/positive responses were >70%, 50-69%, <50% respectively. Question no 22 was assessed independently to find out reasons for underreporting of ADRs. Data was compiled and analyzed by descriptive statistics, Chi-square and ANOVA test.Results: The response rate in this study was 62.5%. The study included professors (11%), associate professors (6%), assistant professors (20%), postgraduates (26%) and interns (37%). That there was statistically very highly significant difference of mean score of knowledge, attitude and practice among health care professionals (P<0.001). The performance score with respect to attitude of health care professionals towards pharmacovigilance was good as compared to knowledge which was average followed by practice which showed poor performance (72.5% >51.6% >36.8%) (p <0.001).Conclusions: Awareness campaigns, CMEs, workshops on pharmacovigilance should be conducted regularly such that good knowledge about pharmacovigilance can be imparted which can be moulded into good practice.

In the 20 th century, surgery has seen a manifold increase in numbers across the whole world. Laryngoscopy and intubation are obligatory procedures for most patients undergoing surgery under general anesthesia. Despite the advent of new airway devices, rigid laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation are still considered the apogee. However, inevitably it is associated with certain cardiovascular changes such as tachycardia, escalation in blood pressure, and a plethora of cardiac arrhythmias. 1 The hemodynamic changes stemming from such airway instrumentation are due to sympathoadrenal discharge caused by epipharyngeal and parapharyngeal stimulations. 2 The sympathetic pressor response to laryngoscopy and intubation can lead to various adverse events like myocardial ischemia, pulmonary edema, acute heart failure, and cerebrovascular accidents, in susceptible individuals. 3-5 Lignocaine is one of the oldest pharmacological agents to be used for diminishing of the pressor response. 6 Esmolol, an ultra-short acting cardioselective β-blocker with rapid onset when administered intravenously is an attractive option for attenuating this pressor response. 7 α 2 adrenergic agonist dexmedetomidine possesses sympatholytic effects thereby preventing catecholamine release, hypertension, and tachycardia. 8

Dyslipidemia is one of the leading causes of various cardiovascular and central nervous system disorders. Death from cardio-vascular disorders accounted for 36.3% of the 2.4 million deaths worldwide. Recognition that dyslipidemia is a risk factor has led to the development of drugs that modify cholesterol level. The intensity of therapy should be sufficient to achieve 30-40% reduction in LDL-C without side effects and low cost. The prescription order is an important therapeutic transaction between the prescriber and the patient. It has been well accepted that inadequate and irrational prescriptions could lead to serious consequences. The study was carried out by observing and analyzing data of 100 consecutive patients admitted in ICU and receiving lipid lowering agents for a period of eighteen months. From the study it is found that statins are the cornerstone of pharmacotherapy of dyslipidemias. At the same time the importance of dietary manipulations can't be ignored in management of dyslipidemias. Statins are relatively safe drugs however a few significant adverse reactions such as myalgia were also encountered during the course of the study.

Myopathies are disorders with structural changes or functional impairment of muscle. Voluntary muscle is subject to a range of hereditary and acquired disorders affecting either its structure, or the biochemical processes which convert the chemical energy derived from cell metabolism into mechanical energy in a controlled manner. These disorders present in a limited number of ways, most commonly a symmetrical weakness of the large, power-generating proximal muscles. Drug induced myopathy comes under acquired causes of myopathy. Here we shall be presenting a case of Amiodarone induced myopathy in a 40 years old male patient of ventricular arrhythmia. We shall also discuss the further management of this presentation.