Prescription pattern and cost analysis study of various drugs in patients with sexual disorders in a tertiary care hospital

Abstract

Background: Sexual disorders are very much prevalent in clinical practice and mainstay of treating them is medications. Cost of medicines used to treat them is very high. Furthermore, different kinds of formulations are available to treat them in market. Compliance to treatment depends on various factors one being related to medicines prescribed. Aim and Objectives: The objective of the study was to evaluate prescription patterns and cost analysis of various drugs used in the treatment of sexual disorders. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional, observational study undertaken from January 2018 to January 2019 after taking permission from Institutional Ethics Committee. The demographic profile, diagnosis, drugs prescribed along with their dose, frequency, written instructions regarding drug instillation, and its precautions were recorded on a semi-structured case record form. Results: The most commonly diagnosed sexual disorder was ED with PME (31.10%) in male and orgasmic sexual dysfunction (1.22%) in female. Most commonly prescribed class of drugs was Vitamins (20%) along with Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors PDEIs) (17%). About 79% drugs were prescribed by brand names were and 21% by generic names. The most frequently prescribed oral formulation was a tablet (93.53%). Tadalafil (99.9%) was prescribed most frequently PDEI. The minimum cost ratio was for tablet Paroxetine 12.5 mg, that is, 1:1.50 and the percentage cost variation was 500. The maximum cost ratio was for tablet Bupropion 150 mg and has percentage cost variation of 490. In PDEIs sildenafil had maximum cost ratio (1:2.51) and cost variation percentage (151). Conclusions: Wide range of cost variations seen in medicines. This knowledge can help doctors to prescribe as per patient’s socio-economic status.