Abstract
BACKGROUND: Misuse of prescription drugs is a major public health problem in India and developing countries. Emerging evidence indicates that glucocorticoids are a class of drugs that are silently misused. These drugs are inexpensive and easily available as over-the-counter drugs in India are widely used by local practitioners and self-prescribed by patients for swift symptomatic relief of febrile illnesses, joint pain, asthma, other respiratory illnesses, and skin diseases. Many people have become dependent on glucocorticoids unintentionally and remain completely unaware of the metabolic changes occurring in their bodies. METHODOLOGY: A descriptive cross-sectional study involving 38 pharmacies in Thiruvalla municipality of South India was conducted to indirectly assess the utilization of glucocorticoids in the region using a pharmacy sales overview. RESULTS: Most people approach pharmacies with prescriptions than without. A high majority of pharmacists do not have any knowledge about the uses (37%) or adverse effects (66%) of glucocorticoids. More than 50% of the community pharmacies have more than 1% of their sales attributed to glucocorticoids when compared with the total sales volume of drugs.