Drug Utilization Pattern of Psychotropic Medications Prescribed in the Outpatient Department of a Level III Hospital in Quezon City, Philippines

According to the WHO in 2019, mental illness is a major global health issue. In the Philippines, around 6 million people suffer from conditions like depression and anxiety, making it the country’s third most common disability. The study employed a retrospective design to assess psychotropic medication use at a level III hospital in Quezon City, Philippines, by reviewing outpatient records from January to December 2023. Using non-probability purposive sampling, the target sample size was 123 based on standard calculations 95% confidence level, 5% margin of error, 50% estimated proportion, however 160 records were included. Most patients were young adults, mostly single, with a nearly equal gender distribution. Major depressive disorder was the common diagnosis, followed by generalized anxiety disorder and schizophrenia. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors and benzodiazepines were frequently prescribed, with escitalopram being the most common. Prescribers largely followed the Department of Health’s pharmacotherapeutic guidelines, though alprazolam was the most frequent non-adherent drug. Among 48 potential drug-drug interactions identified, most were moderate, often involving escitalopram, which may increase the risk of serotonin syndrome, QT prolongation, and arrhythmias when combined with drugs like risperidone or lithium. The study highlighted that there is an increasing usage of psychotropic medications, specifically in the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors class, among young single adult females with major depressive disorder as the common diagnosis. In addition, the collected data highlighted that the prescribing practice of most prescribers adhered to the Department of Health's pharmacotherapeutic guidelines. Researchers emphasized the need for better mental health care, personalized treatment plans, careful monitoring of drug interactions, and improved access to resources.