A cross-sectional questionnaire based study to assess and compare knowledge of drug schedules amongst healthcare professionals in a medical college.

Background: Ensuring quality, safety and efficacy of all pharmaceuticals is the responsibility of drug regulators. However, healthcare workers should be aware of the legal/regulatory provisions involved. This study was planned to assess and compare the knowledge of various drugs schedules under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 amongst medical students, post graduate residents and pharmacists.

Drug update - Baloxavir marboxil: Latest entrant into the arena of pharmacotherapy of influenza.

Influenza is a frequent cause of clinically significant human disease, with seasonal epidemics and occasional pandemics. Uncomplicated influenza in healthy individuals is managed symptomatically. Vaccination against influenza plays a vital role in the control of infection in humans.

Analysis of the prescription pattern of psychotropics in an outpatient department of a general hospital psychiatry unit.

Background: World Health Organization has prescribed drug use indicators for evaluating rational prescribing. Very few studies have been conducted on rational prescriptions for psychotropic drugs; hence, this study was undertaken at a tertiary care center of North India.

Methods: After obtaining approval of the Institutional Ethics Committee, all prescriptions deposited with the dispensary of the psychiatry department of the hospital between 01 October 2017 and 31 December 2017 were included in the study.

An observational study to assess the possibility of patient participation in implementing pharmacovigilance in a busy tertiary care hospital.

Background: Adverse drug reactions are an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Monitoring adverse drug reaction is the primary function of Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI). The national program at the inception allowed only physicians, nurses, and pharmacists to report adverse drug reactions but has recently permitted even the consumers or patients to report.

A prospective study to assess the medication adherence pattern among hypertensives and to evaluate the use of cellular phone text messaging as a tool to improve adherence to medications in a tertiary health-care center.

Aim: The aim of the study was to assess improvement in adherence to medications using mobile phone text messaging (short message services [SMSs] and social media).

Objectives: The objective was to assess the pattern of adherence to medication in hypertensives and to assess the improvement in adherence pattern to antihypertensive medications using mobile phone text messaging as a tool.

Methodology: After obtaining informed consent, the study participants' blood pressure was recorded, and their adherence to medications was graded as high, medium, and low using the Medication Adherence Questionnaire.

Macitentan: An important addition to the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Macitentan is an orphan drug for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Endothelin-1 (ET-1) plays a critical role of pathophysiology of PAH. Macitentan, a new dual endothelin receptor antagonist, has reportedly improved prognosis of PAH patients by delaying the progression of disease.