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Background: Food drug interactions occur due to interaction between the drug and food products leading to decreased efficacy of the medication by bringing about change in pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics of the drugs. Objectives: To evaluate the knowledge attitude regarding the food and drug interactions among the second year medical under graduate students. Materials and Methods: This was a questionnaire -based, cross-sectional study in which a self developed, pre-tested, semi-structured questionnaire was used. Respondents were 152 second year medical students. Questions were framed to obtain information about various issues concerned with knowledge about food and drug interactions. Results: It was seen that majority of 82% of the students were aware about food and alcoholic beverage interfering with drug in the body. 64% of the students had the knowledge about impact of food drug interaction depends on a various factors like drug dosage, person’s age, & health status. Conclusion: Sound knowledge about food and drug interactions is a vital part to accomplish the therapeutic efficacy in the medications in the patients. In this regard, students are future doctors and their knowledge to regarding food and drug interaction needs to be upgraded. Keywords: Food and drug interactions, Questionnaire, Medical students, Knowledge.

Background: In India, many of the drugs which are to be purchased only with the prescription by the registered medical practitioners, that is, drugs (Schedule H) are available to the patients without the doctors prescription leading to unwanted side effects. It is extremely important to create the awareness in health-care professionals and country men to counter this ignorance. Aim and Objective: This study aims to assess the knowledge among undergraduate medical students in a government medical college in South India regarding drug schedules. Materials and Methods: The 2nd year medical students (n = 150) were recruited in this current study. We have used pilot tested validated questionnaire to know the concept of different drug schedules among the 2nd year medical students. Results: Nearly 65% of the students have the knowledge regarding Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940, and all the drug schedules. It was interesting to find that 60–70% of students were aware about schedule H drugs and category X drugs, respectively. Conclusion: The knowledge of different drug schedules acquired by the 2nd year medical students in their pharmacology curriculum will certainly help the budding doctors to apply the knowledge relevantly in their future practice and guide other health-care professionals and counter the ignorance of drug schedules among the public.

Background: Use of antibiotics in special population like children is not same as adult. Pediatric age group will have difference in pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, efficacy, and safety of drugs. In children, the maturity of major organs will be in developing stage which would affect the absorption, metabolism, distribution, and excretion of drugs. Hence, irrational prescription of drugs may lead to many adverse effects ranging from mild to severe. In developing countries like India, we do not have much unbiased information on the currently used drugs. Hence, the current study focused on antibiotic use among pediatric population using data from a tertiary care teaching hospital. Aim and Objectives: The objectives of the study were as follows: (i) To observe antibiotic prescription trends in in-patients of pediatric ward and (ii) to analyze rationality of antibiotic prescription. Materials and Methods: It is a prospective observational study which was conducted over a period of 1 year. Institutional Ethics Committee approval was taken before conducting the study. The data of inpatients of pediatric ward were collected in a separate well-designed preform. Inpatients with age group of 0–14 years were included in the study. Results: Out of 1050 patients, 471 were below the age group of 1 year, 220 patients were between 1 and 5 years, and 359 patients were above the age of 5 years. The percentage of patients with antibiotic prescribed was 92.1%. Respiratory tract infections were predominantly seen among children, especially bronchopneumonia was seen in 6.6% of the patients. Among the antibiotics, amikacin (483) was most commonly prescribed followed by cefotaxime (414) and ceftriaxone (301). Conclusion: In our study, we have found that antimicrobials were most commonly used drugs in the form of injectable. To prevent development of antimicrobial resistance, there is necessary of antibiotic policy in each and every hospitals of India.

Background: Although nausea and vomiting are natural signs of pregnancy affecting about half the pregnant women during their first trimester of pregnancy, it is unpleasant and difficult symptom to deal with. Considering the fact that medication during pregnancy is not advised, we decided to study the efficacy of a natural product to control nausea and vomiting during early pregnancy. Our study was directed to estimate the efficacy of ginger extract (Zingiber officinale) in pregnancy induced nausea and vomiting.Methods: A total of 30 women with pregnancy of 4-16 weeks, suffering from nausea and vomiting were included in this study (n=30). Subjects were given ginger extract 250mg, to be taken 3 times a day half an hour before food for 1 week. Severity of vomiting was assessed by Rhodes Index of Nausea and Vomiting by the patients. Baseline scores were compared with the score at the end of 7 day. The findings were analysed statistically.Results: Effect with the ginger extract in pregnancy induced nausea and vomiting was assessed at the end of treatment (day 7) and compared with the baseline values. Four patients reported symptoms of heartburn. Otherwise, there were no other reports of any adverse effects. The results showed significance (p

Background: Self-medication practice is widespread in many countries and the irrational use of drugs is a cause of concern. It assumes a special significance among medical students as they are exposed to knowledge about diseases and drugs. To assess practice and perception of self-medication among undergraduate medical students.Methods: It is a descriptive study in which study population was comprised of 2nd year undergraduate medical students of Gulbarga Institute of Medical Sciences, Kalaburagi, Karnataka, India. Total 134 students were included in the study. Written informed consent was obtained from each volunteer prior to the study. Students were given a questionnaire that included both open and close ended questions about self-medication practice. Data was analysed and presented as counts and percentages.Results: It was found that 72 (54%) students practiced self-medication. The principal morbidity for seeking self-medication was cold and cough as reported by 70 (53%) students. Antibiotics were most commonly self-medicated as reported by 55 (36%) students. Only 34 (25%) students opined that self-medication is part of self-care.Conclusions: Self-medication is widely practiced among under­ graduate medical students. In this situation, we should educate the students about advantages and disadvantages of self-medication.