Abstract

ROLE OF CLINICAL PHARMACIST IN DETECTION AND MANAGEMENT OF DRUG RELATED PROBLEMS - A REVIEW

Jincy Kurian*, Deepthi C. Denny, Dr. K. Krishnakumar and Igna Thankachan

ABSTRACT

Drugs are the chemical substances used for prevention and treatment of various kinds of ailments. These chemical substances interact with living tissue and produce two types of effect. One is called beneficial effect known as therapeutic effect and the second one is called the harmful effect known as Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR). The drugs are considered as Double Edged Sword. So when a person consumes a drug, he consumes a risk. A balance between this beneficial effect and harmful effect is essential to assure the safety of drugs. As the number and potency of available drugs in the market increases, prescribing of drugs by physicians and the drug use by patients becomes more complex, leading to a variety of Drug Related Problems (DRPs). The concept of Drug Related Problems was recommended with the launch of the new cognitive pharmacist service model of pharmaceutical care in the 1990s. DRPs can lead to substantial morbidity, mortality and ineffective pharmacotherapy. If DRPs are identified and resolved at right time, the therapeutic outcome will be much better and saves the unwanted treatment expenditure. Prevention strategies should target the ordering and monitoring stage of pharmaceutical care.

Keywords: Drugs, Double edged sword, Therapeutic effect, Drug Related Problems.