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Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Article

Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Year: 2026, Volume: 25, Issue: 2, Pages: 116-123

Original Article

Evaluation of Prescribing Patterns and Cutaneous Adverse Drug Reactions in Dermatology Outpatients: Insights from a Prospective Study in an Urban Indian Teaching Hospital

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.

Abstract

The rational prescription of dermatological medications is critical in reducing treatment costs and minimizing adverse drug reactions (ADRs). With rising polypharmacy and irrational drug use in dermatology, Structured pharmacovigilance is very important for keeping an eye on drug-related hazards and prescribing trends, especially in emerging nations like India. The aim of this study was to analyze prescribing trends and identify the spectrum of cutaneous adverse drug reactions (cADRs) experienced by dermatology patients receiving treatment at a tertiary care hospital, evaluating their rationale in accordance with WHO prescribing indicators and pharmacovigilance metrics. An observational study was carried out on 979 dermatology outpatients over three months at RUHS CMS, Jaipur. Data were collected using WHO core drug-use indicators, and ADRs were monitored actively via a departmental pharmacovigilance program. Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis were utilized. Collectively, 2,848 drugs were prescribed across 979 encounters, with a mean of 2.75 drugs per prescription. Oral route was predominant (57.3%), with tablets (44.5%) as the most common dosage form. Antifungals (24.8%) and antihistamines (23.6%) were the most frequently prescribed. Itraconazole and levocetirizine were the leading agents. cADRs were reported in 2.3% of patients; steroid-induced acne and photodermatitis were common. All prescriptions adhered to generic naming (100%) and 93.6% Includes medications from the list of necessary drugs. This study underscores generally rational prescribing practices but highlights the need for enhanced ADR monitoring. Dermatology remains a high-risk specialty for cADRs, necessitating continuous pharmacovigilance, education of prescribers, and patient counseling to mitigate preventable drug harms.

Keywords: Dermatology, Rational Drug Use, WHO Prescribing Indicators, Adverse Drug Reactions, Pharmacovigilance

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Copyright

© 2026 Published by Krupanidhi College of Pharmacy. This is an open-access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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