162DRUG UTILIZATION STUDY IN DERMATOLOGY OPD IN A TERTIARY CARE TEACHING HOSPITALSkin diseases are common in developing countries, accounting for great morbidity. Drug utilization studies are powerful exploratory tools to ascertain the role of drugs in the society which refers to the marketing, distribution, prescription and use of drugs with special emphasis on the medical, social and economic consequences. To study the pattern of drug use in various skin disorders in dermatology OPD & to evaluate the rational use of drugs in population. A total of 890 prescriptions were evaluated prospectively over a period of 2 months at dermatology OPD at a tertiary care teaching hospital with the permission of Institutional Ethical Committee. Evaluation made using WHO drug use indicators. Total 890 prescriptions were analyzed in which total 2901 drugs were prescribed with an average of 3.25 drugs per prescription. Out of all the drugs 27.4% drugs were from National Essential Drug list 2011. Antihistaminic (17.85%) were the most common group of drugs used, followed by corticosteroids (16.3%).Most of the drugs were given by topical route (58.3%), followed by oral route (40.2%). 32.2% of drugs were prescribed by generic names. This study can help to provide feedback to prescribers thereby increasing awareness and improve patient care by rational use of drugs.pharmacologyscgmcnanded@gmail.comResearch712017Dermatology,Drug utilization,OPDShweta Mohan Bakkewar, Saleem Basha Tamboli,Manoj HarnalikarDr.Shankarrao Chavan Government Medical College, Vishnupuri, Nanded, Maharashtra. India 431606,Dr.Shankarrao Chavan Government Medical College, Vishnupuri, Nanded, Maharashtra. India 431606,Dr.Shankarrao Chavan Government Medical College, Vishnupuri, Nanded, Maharashtra. India 431606