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Abstract
Background: There is a paucity of research on the use of pro re nata (PRN) medications in psychiatry, and even more so, their use in patients diagnosed with concurrent disorder (CD).
Aim: To provide an initial review and description of this population with respect to the administration of PRN medications.
Method: A retrospective review of 135 charts was conducted on patients admitted to the University of British Columbia Concurrent Disorder Unit from 1 June 2008 to 31 December 2008.
Results: A total of 133 (98.5%) of the 135 patients had at least one PRN order in their charts. The most frequently ordered medications for use as a PRN were Lorazepam (103 orders), Quetiapine (91 orders), and Loxapine (68 orders). The mean dosages delivered for all medications were in the low, sedative range. The most common reasons for prescribing across medications were for: sleep, agitation, anxiety, and withdrawal symptoms. With respect to the proportion of PRN orders to actual PRN medications administered, Quetiapine (83.5%) was highest, followed by Lorazepam (80.5%), and Loxapine (51.4%).
Conclusions: A high proportion of PRN medication orders and administrations were used in a cohort of inpatients diagnosed with concurrent disorder for a variety of indications.