Estudo sobre a prática da automedicação em paranaenses adultos durante a pandemia da COVID-19 / Study on the practice of self-medication in adults from Paraná during the COVID-19 pandemic

O desconhecimento sobre medicamentos para prevenir ou tratar a COVID-19, bem como o uso de prescrições anteriores e o armazenamento de medicamentos em casa podem estimular a automedicação. Assim, este trabalho teve como objetivo estudar a prática da automedicação em indivíduos paranaenses adultos durante o período da pandemia da COVID-19. Para tanto, foi realizado um estudo quantitativo-descritivo e transversal com distribuição on-line de questionários alcançando paranaenses com idade ≥18 anos. Os resultados mostram que pacientes (n=329) entre 18-37 anos foram os mais abordados. Aproximadamente 24% se automedicaram, influenciados principalmente por possuírem o medicamento em casa (21%) ou por familiar ou amigos (13%). A automedicação na prevenção da COVID-19 foi frequente para vitaminas (28%) e ivermectina (20%). Já o uso de medicamentos sem prescrição utilizados em sintomas respiratórios foi em grande maioria com analgésicos/antitérmicos (17%) e relaxantes musculares (10%). Além disso, participantes com positividade para a COVID-19 se automedicaram com vitaminas (6%); ivermectina ou nitazoxanida (4%); e analgésicos/antitérmicos (3%). O uso da ivermectina ou nitazoxanida para a COVID-19 não comprovada cientificamente para esta finalidade. Por fim, a automedicação para sintomas não respiratórios foi maior nos analgésicos e antitérmicos (14%), relaxantes musculares (9%) e laxantes (9%). Apesar de pouco utilizada, a automedicação com cloroquina/hidroxicloriquina foi citada, mesmo sem estudo de eficácia para a COVID-19. Conclui-se que, mais da metade dos participantes paranaenses adultos realizaram automedicação durante a pandemia da COVID-19, sendo que as classes medicamentosas mais frequentes foram analgésicos/antitérmicos, relaxantes musculares, laxantes, vitaminas e ivermectina.

The lack of knowledge about medications to prevent or treat COVID-19, as well as the use of previous prescriptions and the storage of medicines at home, can encourage self-medication. Thus, this work aimed to study the practice of self medication in adult individuals from Paraná during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, a quantitative-descriptive and cross-sectional study was carried out with the online distribution of questionnaires reaching people from Paraná aged ≥18 years old. The results show that participants (n=329) between 18-37 years old were the most frequent responders. Approximately 24% self-medicated, influenced mainly by having the medication at home (21%) or by family members or friends (13%). Self-medication with vitamins (28%) and ivermectin (20%) in preventing COVID-19 was frequent. However, over-the-counter drugs used for respiratory symptoms were mostly analgesics/antipyretics (17%) and muscle relaxants (10%). Additionally, participants who tested positive for COVID-19 self-medicated with vitamins (6%), ivermectin or nitazoxanide (4%), and analgesics/antipyretics (3%). The use of ivermectin or nitazoxanide for COVID-19 has not been scientifically proven for this purpose. Finally, self-medication for non-respiratory symptoms was higher for analgesics and antipyretics (14%), muscle relaxants (9%), and laxatives (9%). Although little used, self-medication with chloroquine/ hydroxychloroquine was cited, even without an efficacy study for COVID-19. It is concluded that more than half of the adult participants from Paraná self-medicated during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the most frequent drug classes being analgesics/antipyretics, muscle relaxants, laxatives, vitamins, and ivermectin.

Evaluation of the impact of orally administered carbohydrates on postprandial blood glucose levels in different pre-clinical models

ABSTRACT We developed a pre-clinical model in which to evaluate the impact of orally administered carbohydrates on postprandial blood glucose levels. For this purpose, we compared the effects of different carbohydrates with well-established glycemic indexes. We orally administered (gavage) increasing amounts (0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, and 1.0 g/kg) of sucrose and lactose to rats which had been fasted for 6 h or 15 h, respectively. In part of the experiments we administered frutose (gavagem). Three different models were compared for measuring postprandial blood glucose levels: a) evaluation of interstitial glucose concentrations by using a real time continuous glucose monitoring system; b) evaluation of glucose levels in blood obtained from the rat tail; c) evaluation of serum glucose levels in blood collected after decapitation. Our results showed that blood obtained from the tails of 15-h fasted rats was the best model in which to evaluate the effect of carbohydrates on postprandial blood glucose levels.