Psychotropic drug prescription pattern in a developing country (Nigeria). The need for an essential psychotherapeutic drug list.
Psychotropic drug prescription pattern of Nigerian psychiatrists was studied. The most widely prescribed oral antipsychotic was found to be chlorpromazine closely followed by thioridazine and trifluoperazine. Fluphenazine decanoate was the most frequently employed parenteral long-acting antipsychotic preparation. The most commonly prescribed antidepressant was amitriptyline (96.2%) closely followed by imipramine (84.6%). The two widely prescribed anxiolytics were diazepam (88.5%) and chlordiazepoxide (69.2%). This prescription pattern of Nigerian psychiatrists provides a list of what can be considered as essential psychotropic drugs in Nigeria.
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D004363:Drug Utilization; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D009549:Nigeria; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs