Publication: A Prospective Study of Commonly Prescribed Drugs in the Management of Neuropathic Pain and its Medication Adherence Pattern
Date
2016
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kathmandu University
Abstract
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.
KEY WORDS
Low back pain, medication adherence, neuropathic pain, non-adherence
Description
Shrestha R,1,2 Silwal P,1 Basnet N,1 Shakya Shrestha S,1,2 Shrestha R,3 Pokharel BR4
1Department of Pharmacology
Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences
2Research and Development Division
3Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology
4Department of Internal Medicine
Dhulikhel Hospital, Kathmandu University Hospital
Dhulikhel, Kavre, Nepal
Keywords
Low back pain, Medication adherence, Neuropathic pain, Non-adherence