Guaifenesin Use in a Government Hospital in Al-Kharj
Nehad J. Ahmed *
Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia.
Dina I. Fouda
Pediatric Clinical Pharmacy, King Saud Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Ahmed I. Foudah
Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aim: The present study aimed to describe the pattern of using guaifenesin in a government hospital in Al-Kharj.
Methodology: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study that was conducted in a government hospital in Al-Kharj. Prescription data was collected from outpatient electronic records.
Results: During the study period, 519 patients received guaifenesin syrup from the outpatient pharmacy of the government hospital. Most of the patients who used guaifenesin syrup were males (66.09%) and more than half of them were in the age group between 20-39 years old (55.10%). All of the prescriptions were written by residents (100%) and most of guaifenesin prescriptions were prescribed by emergency department (96.15%).
Conclusion: The present study showed that guaifenesin was frequently used in Al-kharj. Additional studies are needed to describe the frequency and pattern of using guaifenesin in different settings and also to describe the pattern of using other cough/cold medications.
Keywords: Guaifenesin, outpatient, pattern, use