Irrational fixed dose combinations in Nepal: Need for intervention

Authors

  • A Poudel Hospital and Clinical Pharmacist, Drug Information and Pharmacovigilance Center, Manipal Teaching Hospital, Pokhara, Nepal
  • S Palaian Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacy/ Pharmacology, Manipal College of Medical Sciences, Pokhara, Nepal
  • PR Shankar Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, KIST Medical College, Lalitpur, Nepal
  • J Jayasekera Project coordinator, Health Action International, Colombo, Sri Lanka
  • MIM Izham Associate Professor, Discipline of Social and Administrative Pharmacy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3126/kumj.v6i3.1723

Keywords:

Adverse drug reaction, Combination drugs, Fixed dose combination, Irrational drug use, Nepal

Abstract

A large proportion of drugs available are of little importance in terms of fulfilling primary healthcare needs. Combination drugs increase the risk of side effects, lead to an ineffective dosage and liability to abuse and may also needlessly increase the cost. Drug combinations make it more difficult to find the causative agent responsible for the adverse reactions. In many cases their stability is doubtful, reducing the efficacy of many preparations. The Fifteenth WHO model list of essential medicines (March 2007) contains only 25 approved fixed dose combinations, whereas in Nepal, there are innumerable examples of irrational drug combinations, which are easily available and can be bought even without a prescription. A system of screening the drug combinations that are already licensed and available in the market is implemented in many developed and developing countries. Rational combinations can be of immense help to the health care system. These combinations may improve the quality of life for many and increase compliance. But irrational fixed dose combination products can be equally harmful.

Key words: Adverse drug reaction, Combination drugs, Fixed dose combination, Irrational drug use, Nepal

doi: 10.3126/kumj.v6i3.1723

Kathmandu University Medical Journal (2008), Vol. 6, No. 3, Issue 23, 399-405

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How to Cite

Poudel, A., Palaian, S., Shankar, P., Jayasekera, J., & Izham, M. (2009). Irrational fixed dose combinations in Nepal: Need for intervention. Kathmandu University Medical Journal, 6(3), 399–405. https://doi.org/10.3126/kumj.v6i3.1723

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 3 (2008)

Section

Review Articles