Comparative In-Vitro Quality Control Testing of Different Brands of Paracetamol Tablets Available In The Trinidad & Tobago, West Indies

Paracetamol tablets are popular over the counter (OTC products among the patients as a good analgesics and antipyretics. The objective of this study was to compare the quality of the paracetamol tablet formulations those are locally available in Trinidad & Tobago pharmaceutical market manufactured by various pharmaceutical companies with pharmacopoeia standards. The four popular brands (A, B, C, D) of paracetamol conventional tablet of 500 mg strength were chosen. The paracetamol tablets were obtained from government hospital pharmacies as well as from local private pharmacies. To compare the quality of tablet formulations of different brands various official parameters like friability, weight variation, disintegration time, dissolution and drug assay tests were performed as per the pharmacopoeia. The result of all these parameters of different brands were in the pharmacopoeial limits so it could be concluded that marketed pharmaceutical tablets of paracetamol of these brands are safe, effective and efficacious as well as satisfy quality control limits of pharmacopoeia.

Rational use of therapeutic drugs in the Caribbean

The concept of "Rational drug use" means the selection of the most appropriate and cost effective drugs, carefully prescribed, with an understanding of patient education needs and compliance problems. Caribbean experience and recent Drug Utilisation Review (DUR) studies indicate that drug use for common problems like hypertension, diabetes and arthritis could be greatly improved. Applying the principles of rational drug use can save money, improve treatment and bring effective drugs to more of our populations. Emphasis must be on education rather than regulation, which leads to other adverse consequences. Skilled professionals and National Drug and Therapeutics Committees are essential, to steer a rational path between the pressures of the drug industry and the realities of economies in crisis (AU)

Drug formulary: a guide to rational drug prescribing

A document listing drugs, which may be purchased by the Ministry of Health, and containing information on the indications, contraindications, side effects,dosage and any other special information related to the drug.(AU)

Preventing gut dysfunction

Gastrointestinal dysfunction can be prevented by modifying our diet, drug use, lifestyle and environment. Diet modification significantly affects the symptoms of gastrointestinal tract in some individuals. Many foods will cause upset stomach and each individual has to learn this by trial and error. In the oesophagus, reflux symptoms are aggravated by a wide variety of substances including, alcohol, red wine, nicotine. The lack of fibre in our diet is thought to be responsible for the high incidence of constipation, diverticular disease and haemorrhoids seen in the western world. The availability of numerous drugs over the counter leads to a large intake of drugs by the population. The lifestyle of a patient may be important in some gastrointestinal conditions, and the environment in which our patients live may have considerable significance to their gut symptoms. Clean water and good sanitation are necessary to prevent the transmission of food-borne diseases which have a major impact on the gastrointestinal tract

Drug availability in Jamaica

The availability of drugs and the supply system in Jamaica were examined. The Jamaica Commodity Trading Company imports all drugs through an international tendering system for the public health sector, and vital drugs for private distributors. For the 18-month period from January 1988, 652 awards were made, consisting of 426 (65 percent) brand and 226 (35 percent) generic drugs. There were several strengths and formulations for many drugs, including 19 preparations of 2 antibiotics. The University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) has been experiencing recurrent delays in the supply of several important drugs. In contrast, the private hospitals and pharmacies surveyed were adequately supplied. Many brands of several classes of drugs were available, including 51 antibiotics and 18 different anti-inflammatory analgesic and anti-hypertensive agents. However, several drugs used in special situations were only available at the UHWI. There is a need for the supply of drugs to be a priority in the public health sector and for the use of several drugs to be rationalized. (AM)

Drugs and the blood-brain barrier

This monograph seeks to provide overall information on the role of the blood-brain barrier particularly in relation to entry of various drugs into the Central Nervous System. (AU)

An analysis of the drugs management system in the Public Health Sector

This analysis of the Drugs Management System in the Public Health Sector concludes that there can be no logical comparison between the systems which operated from the Central Supply Division, Long Circular Road, Port-of-Spain and the system operated by the National Hospital Management Company Limited from the warehouse at Chaguaramas (C40) The vast difference in the physical facilities renders this comparison impossible. However, the question arises,"given the same level of facilities, could not the Central Supply Division of the Ministry of Health have been an efficient system for the drugs management in the Public Health sector?" (AU)

Safe use of drugs: some helpful hints

Pamphlet describing safety guidelines for the use of medication.

Drug formulary: 1986

This formulary lists drugs which are used in Government health institutions of Trinidad and Tobago. (AU)

Barbados national drug formulary: a guide to rational prescribing

The BNDF is intended to be a pocket book for quick reference, of greatest value to young doctors, but also to every prescriber who needs to use a drug for the first time, to check general guidelines, major cautions and side effects or dose ranges; to identify an unfamiliar drug name or seek help with an unusual patient; in short to assist in rational prescribing. It is also an educational tool for pharmacists, nurses and other members of the health care team(AU)

Drug metabolizing capacity in Jamaican cigarette and marijuana smokers and non-smokers

Antipyrine elimination has been studied in 31 black Jamaican men, 10 non-smokers, 7 cigarette smokers, 5 marijuana smokers and 9 smokers of both marijuana and cigarettes. Use of both marijuana and tobacco was associated with shorter antipyrine half-lives and faster clearance, inferring faster metabolism. The order of magnitude was similar, and use of both drugs had an additive effect. Half-lives of those subjects who smoked marijuana and cigarettes were half as long as in non-smokers. These results may have important implications for other oxidised drugs, and smoking habits should be considered when choosing dose regimes for such drugs (AU)