Abstract
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are the agents which are commonly used to reduce the stomach acid production. These agents are the strong potent inhibitors of the acid secretion. PPIS are the very popularly sold drugs worldwide and especially the omeprazole is on the WHO model list of essential medicines The objective of the study is to assess and identify the irrational use of PPIs in medical wards. The prospective observational study was conducted for the period of 25 weeks at tertiary care hospital of Larkana Sindh, Pakistan. A total 2000 patient were recruited in this study. Routine visits to every single medical ward and Emergency departments were made with specific intention to search for PPI prescription, route and indication for use. Discharge notes of all patients taking PPIs were likewise looked into. After informed consent, information was gathered on predesigned proforma with no intercession in the management protocols of various teams of medicinal departments. Results were analyzed on spss software 20 version. Out of 2000 patients 60% were males and 40% were females. The visible indications for PPI use were gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) 8.23%, stress ulcer prophylaxis 34.2%, and upper GI bleeding 20.1%. The patients who were prescribed inject able PPIs were 47.8 and oral were 52.14. The patients who had PPI prescribed on discharge slips were 82.3%. PPIs are over and irrationally used for the inpatients as well as for the discharged patients.