Document Type : Research Paper
Abstract
Background: One of the most recent advances in drug design and delivery is the introduction of combined drugs, also known as fixed dose combinations (FDC), which have numerous benefits for patients and pharmacists. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the FDCs available in Wasit-Government pharmacies for the treatment of chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Methods: The drug information was obtained from the drug sheet contained in the drug pack, which included the generic and brand names, constituents, route of administration, manufacturer, and country sources. Results: The proportion of FDCs was 33.7 (127 out of 377 drugs). Patients with chronic diseases received 24 out of 127 prescriptions (18.9%). The sources of 23 drugs were 19 pharmaceuticals from 16 countries, and the source of one FDC was unknown. Only 11 FDCs were recommended for the treatment of hypertension (n=5) and diabetes (n=6). Conclusion: The main barriers to the value of long-term use of FDCs in hypertension and diabetes management were a lack of available and inadequate resources for FDCs.
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