title: A Prospective Study of Commonly Prescribed Drugs in the Management of Neuropathic Pain and its Medication Adherence Pattern.
abstract: Background Neuropathic pain is one of the common complains of patients visiting neurology and orthopedic departments in hospitals. Management of neuropathic pain is difficult and is often symptomatic rather than being curative. Adherence to medication is necessary for pain management to be effective. However, there are various factors related to patient, physician, drug regimen and other socio-economic affecting adherence. Objective To study commonly prescribed drugs in neuropathic pain management and the medication adherence pattern including its associated factors. Method Patients already diagnosed as neuropathic pain were interviewed using structured questionnaire and data entered in Microsoft Office Excel 2007. Informed consent was taken from the patients. Result Among the 84 patients in the study, 69% were females. Majority 53.6% of patients had low back pain as cause of neuropathic pain. Anticonvulsants were mostly prescribed (75%) followed by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (52.4%) and Methylcobalamin (47.6%). More than 50% (n=49) patients were not adherent to the prescribed medication and majority (61.2%) of them were housewives. Significant association was observed between patient's adherence to gender, occupation, polypharmacy, drug regimen, cost and availability of medicine. Conclusion Anticonvulsants were commonly prescribed drugs in patients with neuropathic pain. Neuropathic pain was seen more in females with low back pain. Majority of patients were non-adherent and forgetfulness was the major reason for missing dose in them.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences. Research and Development Division Dhulikhel Hospital, Kathmandu University Hospital Dhulikhel, Kavre, Nepal.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shrestha
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Silwal
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Basnet
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences. Research and Development Division Dhulikhel Hospital, Kathmandu University Hospital Dhulikhel, Kavre, Nepal.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shakya Shrestha
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic and Truamatology Dhulikhel Hospital, Kathmandu University Hospital School of Medical Sciences Dhulikhel, Kavre, Nepal.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shrestha
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine Dhulikhel Hospital, Kathmandu University Hospital Dhulikhel, Kavre, Nepal.
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Pokharel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016903:Drug Monitoring
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000927:Anticonvulsants