Abstract

FIXED DOSE COMBINATION DRUGS: CONCERNS IN HEALTH SYSTEM

Suvarna Ajeet Wagh* and Dr. Priyadarshani Ravindra Kamble

ABSTRACT

FDCs simplify treatment management, improves patient adherence by reducing pill burden and also prevent the development of drug resistance and increase medication compliance, compared with free-drug regimens, in patients with chronic conditions. A perfect combination that has a synergistic effect alike cotrimoxazole, in which sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim are combined together. Clinical studies revealed that fixed dose combinations had many benefits compared to single entity and separate agents in terms of effects, convenience, compliance and cost. Rational use of medicines is based on “Rule of Right” i.e. the right drug is given to right patient at right time with right dosage. FDCs have become an important alternative to monotherapy in the treatment of diseases as hypertension, diabetes, cancer, tuberculosis, asthma and COPD by offering several advantages including patient‟s compliance, simple dosage schedule, superior efficacy and tolerability, reduced risk of adverse events, cheaper shipment and packaging activities. Fixed-dose combinations decrease the risk of medication non-compliance and should be considered as a means of increasing medication compliance in patients with chronic conditions.

Keywords: Rational, sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim, COPD.