ABSTRACT
Background: Rational use of medicine can be defined as receiving medications appropriate to theclinical needs, in doses that meet the individual requirements and for an adequate period of time.Relieving or treating pain is one of the most common reasons for using analgesics. It has been reportedthat non-prescribed and improperly used analgesics has reached worrisome levels
Objectives: The aim of the present study was to assess the magnitude and to determine thepattern of analgesics utilization among adults in Alexandria, to identify the factors associatedwith frequent analgesics use and misuse, and to investigate the adults' knowledge concerninganalgesics use
Methods: The study was conducted using a cross-sectional approach. It included 607 adultsattending 30 private pharmacies in the 8 districts of Alexandria. A predesigned structuredinterviewing questionnaire was used to collect data from the adults attending the selectedpharmacies
Results: More than three quarters of the adults [82%] reported taking one or more analgesics.Nearly two-thirds [64.1%] used to take only one analgesic, while 29.9% used to take twoanalgesics and 6% used to take three or more analgesics. There was a statistically significantas sociation between age, gender, hyperacidity and analgesics use. Paracetamol was used bymore than one quarter [27.5%] of analgesic users, while non steroidal anti -inflammatory drugs[NSAIDs] were used by 86.6% of them. More than one third [37.3%] of the studied adultswere considered frequent analgesic users, while about 16.5% were misusers
Conclusion: Utilization of analgesics was widely prevalent among adults in Alexandria, and it is there sponsibility of Ministry of Health and Population, universities, physicians and pharmacists to rationalize the use of analgesics