Abstract

A drug utilisation evaluation of ranitidine was conducted in a 300-bed government hospital. Baseline audit was done in selected wards of the hospital over 30 days, which identified 228 patients receiving ranitidine. The main reasons for prescribing ranitidine were prophylaxis against non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (21%) and pain in the epigastrium (16%). In 20% of the cases, the reason for prescribing ranitidine was unknown. A questionnaire on ranitidine usage was developed and the responses from all the doctors of the hospital were obtained. Guidelines for ranitidine usage in the hospital were framed and officially circulated among doctors in the hospital. Another 30-day audit was carried out in the same wards where baseline audit was performed, during which 145 in-patients were identified to be taking ranitidine. Prophylactic use of non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs decreased to 13% and only in 10% of the cases reason for prescribing ranitidine was unknown. More than 30% reduction of overall in-patient ranitidine usage was noticed during the study period compared to a similar period from the previous year. The program brought about rational changes in ranitidine prescribing and awareness among doctors regarding cost-effective usage of drugs.