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Over-the-counter drugs mostly consumed by under 25s in SL

15 Sep 2022

BY Ruwan Laknath Jayakody Those below 25 years of age have been identified as the age category group with the highest consumption of over-the-counter drugs in Sri Lanka in a context where the most dispensed over-the-counter drug categories include analgesics (painkillers) such as paracetamol, and multivitamins.  These findings were made in a research on the “Analysis of the dispensing pattern of over-the-counter drugs in community pharmacy outlets, Sri Lankan perspectives: A pilot study” which was authored by academics attached to the Colombo International Nautical and Engineering College [CINEC] Campus's Health Sciences Faculty's Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Department) and published in the CINEC Academic Journal (5)2 in September, 2022.  The highest percentage of over-the-counter drug consumption (40%) was within the age group below 25 years, followed by between 25-45 years (35%), between 45-65 years (16%), and above 65 years (9%). This indicates that analgesics, multivitamins and other category medicines were the most dispensed and obtained with the same percentage (15%). Anti-inflammatory medicine was the least dispensed over-the-counter drug (1%). Antitussives, antipyretics, and antacids were dispensed in equal amounts (9%). Most over-the-counter drugs were directly purchased by patients by mentioning the brand name. Besides, some over-the-counter drugs were listed in the prescriptions. The drugs which were categorised as the other category were the most dispensed over-the-counter drug category (20%) among the age below 25 years group. This category includes children and infants, and they use these drugs to prevent minor symptoms like stomach ache, runny nose, etc. This may probably be because of their playful activities. Heartburn, headache, and gastritis were the main symptoms reported by the patients between the 25-45 age category, who bought mostly the antacids and analgesics. Skin care, antihistamines, antipyretics, and anti-inflammatory drugs were not much used among the age group between 25-45 years (4%). Among the 45–65 years age category, antipyretic medicines were the most dispensed. Unlike the age group below 45 years, the usage of anti-worm drugs was not seen among the age category between 45-65 years. When looking at the dispensing pattern of over-the-counter drugs among the age group over 65 years, most of them reported suffering from a sore throat, joint pain, and headache. Therefore, antitussives and analgesics were the most dispensed drugs within this age group.  Younger people are more likely to consume over-the-counter drugs, and it may be due to the occurrence of minor ailments more frequently. Analgesics, multivitamins and other category over-the-counter drugs were the most dispensed drug categories among all the age groups, and as a percentage, those were equally 15%. Paracetamol is more likely to be dispensed at community pharmacies mainly for the reasons of minor ailments like fever and pain among each age group.  In addition, Samahan and gripe water were highly used by patients among each age group, and thereby it may account for gaining a high percentage as compared with the other over-the-counter drug categories. Anti-inflammatory medicine was the least dispensed over-the-counterdrug category among each age group. As a percentage, it was 1%. The reason for this low percentage may be due to the availability of most anti-inflammatory medicines as prescription only medicines.


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