Study on Prescribing Pattern of Drugs among Outpatients with Bipolar Affective Disorder in a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital

Background: Recurrent periods of depression and mania characterize a multiplex condition called bipolar disorder. Bipolar affective illness is currently treated with a broad number of medications. Mood stabilizer therapy can be used to treat depression or mania without raising the likelihood of a relapse. Antiepileptic, antipsychotic, and antidepressant medications are also indicated and commonly used to treat bipolar illness in clinical practice. Materials and Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted at Justice K. S. Hegde Charitable Hospital for six months among 80 outpatients who were diagnosed with bipolar disorder to study the prescribing pattern of bipolar affective disorder drugs of drugs prescribed. A suitable data collecting form was designed to collect and record the information. The details of drug usage, including frequency, dose, and route of administration, were collected to study prescribing patterns for bipolar affective disorder drugs. Results: 80 prescriptions were analyzed. Males (n=57, 71.25%) were more than females (n=23, 28.75%). The majority of the patients (n=46, 57.5%) belonged to the age group 21 to 40 years. The most commonly prescribed class of drug was mood stabilizers (n=90, 44.34%). Lithium (n=38, 47.5%) was the most frequently prescribed drug. Conclusion: Mood stabilizers were the most commonly prescribed medication class, and the most commonly prescribed medicine was lithium for the management of the bipolar affective disorder. By assisting with prescription analysis and prescribing trends, a clinical pharmacist can help improve a patient’s quality of life. Studies can help psychiatrists get feedback on their current prescribing practices.