ADVERSE DRUG REACTION PATTERN OF ANTI DEPRESSANT DRUGS PRESCRIBED IN PSYCHIATRY OUT-PATIENT DEPARTMENT IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Abstract

OBJECTIVE To study the pattern of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) of anti depressant drugs in patients attending the Psychiatry out-patient department in a tertiary care hospital METHODOLOGY 400 Patients receiving antidepressant drugs as monotherapy at psychiatry outpatient department, in a tertiary care hospital were enrolled in the study. Duration of study was 2 months from September 2014 to October 2014. Adverse drug reactions were documented and analysed. Causality assessment of ADR was done using WHO causality assessment scale. Severity assessment was done using  modified Hartwig Siegel causality assessment scale. RESULTS Most of the patients were in the age group of 31-40 years. Male constituted 26 percentage and female 74 percentage of  population. Imipramine was the most commonly prescribed antidepressant drug as monotherapy. Among 400 patients 298 patients developed ADR. Postural dizziness were more common with Imipramine (31percentage) and Amitriptyline(23  percentage). Insomnia (41percentage) and Anxiety  (27 percentage) were more common with Fluoxetine. 67  percentage of ADRs came under possible category of WHO causality assessment scale. 95percentage of ADRs fell under mild category of severity assessment scale. CONCLUSION Imipramine was the most commonly prescribed antidepressant drug as monotherapy. 75 percentage of patients developed at least one adverse drug reaction Most of ADRs were mild and comes under Possible category of WHO causality assessment scale.