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The fixed dose combination (FDC) therapy varies among countries. The available combination drugs in the market include both rational and irrational ones. The use of irrational fixed dose combination has a great impact on consumers, society and the nation. Since a few studies on prescribing patterns of fixed dose combination are available in literature, there is need for such a study. In this prospective study, carried out in a tertiary care teaching private hospital, one thousand prescriptions from the hospital pharmacy were collected, classified according to anatomic therapeutic and chemical (ATC) classification. The fixed drug combination used was compared with the essential drug list of World Health Organization (WHO) and other countries. In one thousand prescriptions, 3151 drugs were prescribed, of which, 960 were fixed dose combination drugs. Among those, the anti-infective agents for systemic use (17.5%) and drugs affecting the central nervous system (17.08%), cardiovascular system (15.41%) and alimentary system (11.14%) mainly contributed to the fixed dose combinations. The highest percentage of FDCs was seen among the nervous system (36.6%), anti-infective (33.67), anti-neoplastic (31%), respiratory system (31%) and various drugs (35.90%) category which were more than the average percentage of fixed dose combination drug use (30.47%). Majority of the FDCs prescribed (73.25%) were not approved in the WHO essential drug list. There is a significant burden of these combinations on consumers, physicians and policy makers which needs to be handled with care.

Background: Allergic rhinitis is a ubiquitous aliment affecting a large population of individuals. The mainstay of treatment includes antihistamines and topical steroids. With a large assortment available, the choice of the drugs needs to be non-random and evidenced based. Hence this study was undertaken to compare Levocetrezine and Ebastine in terms of efficacy, safety and cost effectiveness in treatment of allergic rhinitis.Methods: Newly diagnosed patients with allergic rhinitis were categorized into two groups and treated with Levocetrizine 5mg and Ebastine 20mg per day respectively. Severity of the symptoms at the commencement and at the end of second and the fourth weeks of therapy were assessed using a four-point Likert scale and assigning a Total Nasal Symptoms Score (TNSS). The primary efficacy measure was mean change from baseline TNSS at each follow up visit. Change in TNSS was compared using Independent sample test. Adverse effects in both the groups were compared using Chi square test. Cost effectiveness was inferred by calculation of the Average Cost Effectiveness Ratio.Results: A total of 159 patients 84 from Levocetrizine group (L group) and 75 from the Ebastine group (E group) were available for study. At the end of second week, the E group showed a better reduction in TNSS(p-0.04). However, both the groups showed similar reduction in TNSS at the concluding visit (p-value of 0.09). The incidence of adverse effects was significantly higher in the L than in E. Levocetrezine was found to be more cost effective than Ebastine.Conclusions: Levocterezine and Ebastine are equally efficacious in treatment of allergic rhinitis. Hence treatment will have to be personalized to the individual patients based on other factors such as adverse drug effects and cost effectiveness.

Objective: Toevaluate the anxiogenic effect on acute administration of gemifloxacin in wistar albino rats. Methods: Elevated plus maze and open field test models were used. Rats were divided into four groups (n=6). All drugs used in the study were freshly prepared and administered orally, sixty minutes prior to the experiment. Group I (Control) received 10 mL distilled water, Group II received moxifloxacin (36 mg/kg), Groups III and IV received test drug, gemifloxacinat 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight respectively.The Results were analyzed using one way ANOVA followed by Dunnett’s post hoc test. Results: There wasa statistically significant (p<0.05) decrease in total arm entries in elevated plus maze model compared to control. In open field test, the time spent in central squares was decreased whereas in peripheral squares was increased compared to control. Conclusion: The present studyshowedanxiogenic activity of gemifloxacin in wistar albino rats.

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