A STUDY ON ANALYSIS OF FIXED DRUG COMBINATIONS WIDELY PRESCRIBED IN INDIA
Dr.Bettina Lavanya Magdaline .S*, Dr.Vasanthi.C, and Dr.Darling Chellathai
Abstract
Objective: Fixed Drug Combination is the combination of two
different drugs in a single pharmaceutical formulations. Rational
FDC’S of two drugs can be advantageous, as it is convenient in Dose
Scheduling, Patient Compliance, Enhanced Effect, Minimisation of
Side effects. The disadvantages are the pharmacokinetics
characteristics of two drugs may not match and dose of any component
may not be independently adjusted. The identification of adverse effect
of particular component is difficult. FDC are widely prescribed in
India for various therapeutic targets. We undertook this study to
analyse the FDC commonly prescribed in India and to find out any
FDC that donot comply with the 1WHO list and 2NLEM (National List
of Essential Medicines) 2011. Methodology: We collected the data of
the widely prescribed FDC using CIMS,CIMS Asia.com, Indian drug review, Local hospital
drug Formulary. We analysed the data comparing with the FDC in the WHO list and NLEM.
Results: From the analysis of the data we found that around 70 FDC do not comply with the
criteria developed by essential medical list of WHO or NLEM of India or both. Out of the 70,
23 were with antibiotics, 20 with analgesics and remaining with sedatives, antihistamines and
vitamin preparation. Conclusion: Hence we claim the FDC are valuable therapy and also
widely prescribed and they need to be developed based on the rationality of pharmacokinetic
and pharmacodynamic parameters and clinical studies are needed to evaluate the safety and
efficacy.
Keywords: FDC – Fixed Drug Combination.
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