A drug use review study in patients with obstructive lung disease. Assessment of the quality of drug therapy.

This study presents the results of an analysis of the pharmacy records of 778 patients with asthma or chronic obstructive lung diseases. The high percentage of patients taking oral corticosteroids was striking. Inhaled beta-agonists for use as needed have been prescribed to only a minority of patients using these agents. Only half of the patients on beta-agonists used inhaled corticosteroids prophylactically. Drug interactions capable of causing changes in plasma theophylline concentrations appeared in only a small number of patients. The results from studies like the one presented here can provide valuable data to be used for further discussion between physicians and pharmacists about rational drug therapy.