PRESCRIPTION TREND OF ANTIPSYCHOTIC DRUGS IN PATIENTS WITH EXTRA-PYRAMIDAL SIDE EFFECTS IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN INDIA

*Dr. Maheshi U. Chhaya and Dr. Vihang S. Chawan

ABSTRACT

Antipsychotic drugs form the cornerstone of the management of psychosis but are associated with extrapyramidal side effects (EPS). Conflicting studies regarding the incidence of EPS with either class of antipsychotic drugs, viz., typical and atypical, exist. The present study was therefore undertaken to determine the prescription pattern of antipsychotic drugs in patients experiences EPS. A total of 100 prescriptions were analyzed over a period of 1 year. The EPS were more common in women than in men, 54 versus 46. Tremor (n=59) was the most frequent EPS observed. Akathisia was observed in 34 and acute muscle dystonia in 7 patients. Tardive dyskinesia was not observed in any patient. Olanzapine (n=61) and Risperidone (n=53) were the most commonly prescribed antipsychotic drugs, followed by Haloperidol (n=44) and Trifluoperazine (n=31). Trihexyphenidyl was noted to 73 prescriptions. Risperidone monotherapy was implicated in the development of EPS in 14 patients. It was thus concluded that both classes of antipsychotic drugs lead to EPS. A higher incidence of EPS was observed with those prescribed with Olanzapine and Risperidone in the present study.

Keywords: Akathisia, Dystonia, Tardive dyskinesia, Trihexyphenidyl, Risperidone, Olanzapine.