Drug prescribing pattern in pregnancy in a secondary care hospital in south India: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND:In pregnancy drug treatment presents a special concern due potential teratogenic effects and physiologic alterations in mother. This retrospective study was performed to evaluate the drug prescribing pattern in pregnancy among pregnant women in a secondary care hospital in India. MATERIALS AND METHODS:This cross-sectional retrospective study was done for 3 months using pre-formatted forms and patient's records. RESULTS:A total of 326 drugs, including 46 different types of drugs, were prescribed to 606 gravid women. Eight different types of medications were started before being seen at the antenatal clinic. Most of these drugs fall under US FDA pregnancy categories B and C and few under categories A, X and N. CONCLUSION:This study reflects a good, safe and rational medication practice during pregnancy in various common disorders in a secondary care hospital and can be cited as an example to similar primary and secondary care hospitals.