Aims and objectives: To evaluate the prescribing patterns of anti-hypertensive drugs in the Cardiology department, Government medical college and Rajindra hospital, Patiala.

Material and methods: It was a cross-sectional and observational study conducted over a period of 6 months.

Results: During the study period, 192 prescriptions of hypertensive patients were analyzed. Among the anti-hypertensive drugs, 6 major classes were observed to be prescribed: Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), beta blockers (BBs), calcium channel blockers (CCBs), diuretics (DUs), angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and alpha blockers (ABs). Out of total 192 cases, 45 (23.4 %) received monotherapy, while 147 (76.6 %) received multi-drug therapy of anti- hypertensive agents. Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) were the most commonly prescribed category both as monotherapy as well as in combination therapy. Two-drug combination was the most prevalent. Among two-drug therapy, ARBs + CCBs was the most commonly prescribed combination.

Conclusion: ARBs were the most frequently prescribed anti-hypertensive category. Dual therapy was a part of majority of prescriptions ; ARBs + CCBs being the commonest combination.