Practice and Awareness of the General Population About Common Over the Counter Analgesics Dependence and Side Effects in Al-Madinah, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background and Aim: Over the Counter (OTC) medication usually used for the management of minor illness and they are available for the patients and can be obtained from the community pharmacies. The most common OTC analgesics that were associated with dependence are those capable of causing tolerance. OTC analgesics are generally non-harmful if used appropriately. The objectives of this study are to measure the prevalence and determine the pattern of using OTC analgesics among Al-Madinah population, and to assess their awareness and attitude regarding the related side effects and dependence. Methods: Cross-sectional study focused on Al-Madinah city, Saudi Arabia, from February 2019 to Augusts 2019, by using validated modified questionnaire distributed by using web-based link. The sample size was 600 participants. Data was analyzed by SPSS. Results: The prevalence of analgesics usage during the past 6 months was 85.8% (95% CI, 83% - 88.7%). The most common type of analgesics was paracetamol and Ibuprofen. Awareness regarding the side effects of OTC analgesics was high (61.8%) while the awareness regarding potential risk of dependence was 44.2%. The most common causes of taking OTC analgesics were headache and toothache, while the most common source of information was self-knowledge, whereas stomach ache was the most common side effect from OTC analgesics. Conclusions: Even though most of the general population in this study have sufficient knowledge about the side effects of OTC analgesics and that it may cause dependence or addiction, however, OTC analgesic usage of the general population is highly prevalent.

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