Trends in the Outpatient Prescribing of Clopidogrel

Aim: This study aims to evaluate the trends in outpatient prescribing of clopidogrel in order to guide the physicians to appropriate clopidogrel prescribing practice in Alkharj.

Methodology: This is a retrospective study that was conducted in a public hospital in Alkharj city. The outpatient prescriptions were reviewed to evaluate the prescription patterns of clopidogrel in the period between 01-01- 2018 and 31-12-2018. The data were collected and analyzed using Excel software; the descriptive data were represented by frequencies and percentages.

Results: The majority of the patients who received clopidogrel were in the ages between 50 to 69. The majority of the prescribing physicians were residents followed by specialists. Cardiology (50.00%) followed by Internal Medicine (23.71%) were the departments that prescribed the majority of Clopidogrel.

Conclusion: Clopidogrel was used frequently and mainly alone without combination. It is prescribed primarily by resident prescribers who are usually with less experience than specialists and consultants. It is important to prescribe it appropriately and it is the responsibility of pharmacists to check for the appropriateness of its dispensing and to check for drug-drug interactions before dispensing it.