From Prescription Patterns to Drug Safety: A Closer Look at Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs and Analgesics in Outpatient Pharmacy

This study explores the prescription patterns and drug safety concerns related to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and analgesics dispensed in an outpatient pharmacy setting. A retrospective cross-sectional study design was employed, involving the review of prescription records over a six-month period. Data were collected from the hospital’s electronic pharmacy database and included details such as drug type, dosage, duration, patient demographics, and potential drug interactions.The methodology involved quantitative analysis using descriptive statistics to identify the most commonly prescribed NSAIDs and analgesics, followed by assessment of potentially inappropriate use, polypharmacy risks, and drug-drug interactions using standard interaction check tools (e.g., Lexicomp). The study also included evaluation of prescribing trends against national and international clinical guidelines.Approval for data collection was obtained from the institution’s Research Ethics Committee, ensuring compliance with ethical and legal standards, including patient data confidentiality and anonymization protocols.This research aims to highlight prescribing behaviours, identify safety gaps, and inform interventions to promote rational use of pain medications in ambulatory care settings.