Stručni rad
Fifteen most utilized over-the-counter drugs in Croatia: longitudinal study based on routinely collected data
Mladenka Vrcić Keglević
; Zaklada za razvoj obiteljske medicine, Črešnjevec 32, 10000 Zagreb
Darja Nelken-Bestvina
; Ordinacija obiteljke medicine „Dr. Darja Nelken-Bestvina
Željko Vojvodić
; Ordinacija obiteljke medicine „Dr. Željko Vojvodić“
Sažetak
Introduction. Lack of published data on the overthe-counter (OTC) drugs consumption in Croatia was the main reason for this investigation covering a ten-year period, 2005-2014.
Methods. The Croatian Agency of Medicinal Products and Devices Annual reports on drug utilization (in which drugs are presented according
to ATC and INN) were the main sources for data collection. Since some of OTC drugs have no defined daily doses, only financial utilisation (in
kunas) and only for the 15 most utilised OTC drugs were collected.
Results. Among the orally used OTC drugs, leading are analgesics and antipyretics, mostly acetaminophen (paracetamol) and acetylsalicylic
acid (aspirin), followed by aspirin as an antiplatelet agent. An array of antacids was often used, as well as the laxative bisacodyl. Vitamins B and C shared the high places, and Sabal palm and silymarin for
prostate and liver diseases. Mucolytics, bromhexine and acetylcysteine are also often used, as well as psychotropic Gingko biloba and valeriana. Among topical drugs, the most used are NSARs and nasal
decongestants.
Conclusions. OTC drugs are frequently and increasingly used in Croatia, with a growing probability of side-effects and drug-drug interactions.
Therefore, the questioning about OTC drug utilization should be part of every consultation in family medicine, and the OTC drug consumption should be systematically investigated.
Ključne riječi
over-the-counter drugs; OTC; drug utilization; Croatia
Hrčak ID:
157237
URI
Datum izdavanja:
5.5.2016.
Posjeta: 6.679 *