187PRESCRIPTION PATTERN ANALYSIS OF ANTIHYPERTENSIVE AGENTS IN A TERTIARY CARE TEACHING HOSPITALEssential hypertension is a common clinical problem occurring in the general population, which is an established risk factor for cardiovascular diseases with shortened expectancy of life. Various prescription pattern studies have been undertaken to provide useful feedback information to prescribers and practitioners in order to establish the rational use of antihypertensive. To evaluate the trend and pattern of drug prescriptions for essential hypertension in a teaching hospital. Relevant data collected prospectively from the medical-case records over a period of 18 months. Collected data were presented in a specially designed proforma with emphasis on demographic, disease, drugs and investigations performed. Collected data were analyzed for conclusion. In all, 575 medical case records of patients with essential hypertension were collected for analysis. The incidence of hypertension among males and females was almost similar. The co-existing diseases with hypertension were DM (19.48%), IHD (9.39%) and DM and IHD (4%) together. Mono therapy with antihypertensive accounted for 45.04% and combination therapy with antihypertensive was prescribed in 54.96% of cases. The most commonly used antihypertensive agents group-wise in order of preference were CCBs (41.57%), Beta blockers (36.17%), ARBs (34.09%), ACEIs (33.22%) and Diuretics (30.78%).On overall analysis, this study suggests that the prescription patterns practiced in study region was in line with the general trend in vogue. In conclusion, the treatment protocol/schedule prescribed and followed at the study area was by and large in conformity with the standard guidelines, though subtle variations cannot be ruled out mediresearchdirect@gmail.comResearch822018Essential hypertension, Antihypertensive drugs, prescription pattern, ACEIs, ARBs, CCBs, Beta blockers, diuretics, DM and IHD.Sridhar Prasad YP,Srinivasa KSridhar Prasad YP,Srinivasa K