Factors and Practices Associated with Self-Medicating Children among Mexican Parents.

BACKGROUND: Pediatric self-medication is based on the subjective interpretation of symptoms in children by the mother or an adult, the decision to self-medicate is made by a third party. The objective of this work is to provide information on the factors and practices associated with the self-medication of children among parents in Mexico. METHODS: A cross-sectional and descriptive study was conducted between June 2020 and December 2021 on Mexican parents with children under 12 years of age. Online questionnaires were completed with sections on sociodemographic characteristics, use of medicines or medicinal plants and their treated symptoms, sources of collection, and their recommendation. RESULTS: A total of 9905 online surveys were completed with representation from the 32 states of Mexico, and the prevalence of self-medication was 49.6% (n = 4908). Associated factors were age, having two or more children, children with chronic illnesses, medium educational level, unemployment or employment unrelated to health, medium and high socioeconomic level, and lack of medical security. Respondents self-medicated their children on the recommendation of a family member or friend (55.8%), and own initiative (28%). The most used medication was VapoRub (61.3%), followed by paracetamol (56.9%) and chamomile (33.1%), and the most prevalent symptoms were flu/flow (47.7%) followed by cough (34.2%). The main reasons were perceiving symptoms as not serious (69.9%) and reusing medications (51.9%). CONCLUSIONS: There is a high prevalence of self-medication in children in Mexico, mainly associated with children with chronic diseases and families with three or more children.

Self-treatment and adverse reactions with herbal products for treating symptoms associated with anxiety and depression in adults from the central-western region of Mexico during the Covid-19 pandemic.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: There are plant species used in the Mexican traditional medicine for the empirical treatment of anxiety and depression. AIM OF THE STUDY: This work assessed the prevalence of self-medication with medicinal plants and the prevalence of the concomitant use of prescribed psychiatric drugs and medicinal plants for treating symptoms associated with anxiety and depression during the Covid-19 lockdown in Mexico. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The suspected adverse reactions associated with drug-herb interactions were assessed. The factors associated with self-medication, the concomitant use of herb-drug combinations, and the presence of adverse reactions due their combined use is also reported. The study was descriptive and cross-sectional using an online questionnaire conducted among population with symptoms associated with anxiety and depression (n = 2100) from seven states of central-western Mexico. RESULTS: The prevalence of the use of herbs (61.9%) and the concomitant use of drug-herb combinations (25.3%) were associated with being diagnosed with mental illness [OR:2.195 (1.655-2.912)] and the use of psychiatric medications [OR:307.994 (178.609-531.107)], respectively. The presence of adverse reactions (n = 104) by the concomitant use of drug-herb combinations was associated with being unemployed [p = 0.004, OR: 3.017 (1.404-6.486)]. CONCLUSION: Health professionals should be aware if their patients concomitantly use medicinal plants and psychiatric drugs. Public health campaigns should promote the possible adverse reactions that might produce the concomitant use of drug-herb combinations for mental illnesses.

In vitro interference by acetaminophen, aspirin, and metamizole in serum measurements of glucose, urea, and creatinine.

OBJECTIVE: Here we aimed to investigate the in vitro effects of three analgesic-antipyretic drugs frequently used in clinical practice in Mexico - acetaminophen (AAP), aspirin (ASA) and metamizole (MMZ) - on serum measurements of glucose, urea, and creatinine. DESIGN AND METHODS: Each analyte was measured in a base-serum pool spiked with the drugs at subtherapeutic, therapeutic, and toxic doses. Serum glucose and urea were measured using the hexokinase/G-6PDH and urease/GLDH kinetic assays, respectively. Serum creatinine (SCr) was measured with a Jaffe procedure based on the alkaline-picrate reaction and with an enzymatic dry-chemistry system. Measurements were carried out in IL-Monarch and Vitros DT60-II analyzers, respectively. Data were analyzed by the difference-paired interference test and by ANOVA. RESULTS: By the kinetic Jaffe/Monarch procedure, we found positive interference by the drugs on the SCr measurements and by only ASA for urea measurement. For creatinine measurements, the total errors (TEs) were 22-51%, 18-105%, and 15-26% for AAP, ASA, and MMZ respectively, while for urea measurement the TE was 16-21% for ASA. A negative interference by MMZ on SCr (TE=-47%), but no-interference for AAP or ASA, were found via the enzymatic/DT60-II system. CONCLUSIONS: In vitro positive interference induced by AAP, ASA, and MMZ (via the alkaline-picrate reaction), or negative interference by MMZ (via a dry-chemistry system), on the SCr measurements highlights the importance of investigating all possible sources of variation that may alter the accuracy of the laboratory tests, in order to provide useful results for making medical decisions for optimal patient care.

Pharmaceutical services in a Mexican pain relief and palliative care institute

Neither the purchase nor the distribution of pharmaceuticals in hospitals and community pharmacies in Mexico is under the care of pharmacists. Some are under control of physicians. This report presents the results of the implementation of some of pharmaceutical services for the Jalisco Pain Relief, and Palliative Care Institute (Palia Institute), under the direction of the Secretary of Health, Government of Jalisco. The services implemented were drug distribution system, Drug Information Service, Pharmacovigilance Program , and home pharmacotherapy follow-up pilot program for patients with advanced illness, with the ultimate using the appropriate medication. The drug distribution system included dispensing of opioid pain medications, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, NSAIDs, anxiolytic drugs, steroid drugs, laxatives, and anti-emetics. The frequently used drugs were morphine sulfate (62%), amitriptyline (6.4%), and dextropropoxyphene (5.8%). The Drug Information Service answered 114 consultations, mainly asked by a physician (71%) concerned with adverse drug reactions and contraindications (21%). The pharmacovigilance program identified 146 suspected adverse drug reactions and classified them reasonably as possible (27%), probable (69%), and certain (4%). These were attributed mainly to pregabalin and tramadol. The home pharmacotherapy follow-up pilot program cared patients with different cancer diagnoses and drug-related problems (DRP), which were identified and classified (according to second Granada Consensus) for pharmaceutical intervention as DRP 1 (5%), DRP 2 (10%), DRP 3 (14%), DRP 4 (19%), DRP 5 (24%), or DRP 6 (28%). This report provides information concerning the accurate use of medication and, above all, an opportunity for Mexican pharmacists to become an part of health teams seeking to resolve drug-related problems (AU)

En México, ni la compra ni la distribución de medicamentos en hospitales y farmacias comunitarias están bajo el cuidado de farmacéuticos. Unos cuantos están a cargo de médicos. Este artículo presenta los resultados de la implementación de algunos servicios farmacéuticos en el Instituto Jaliscience de Alivio al Dolor y Cuidados Paliativos (Instituto Palia), bajo la dirección de la Secretaría de Salud del Gobierno de Jalisco. Los servicios implementados fueron un sistema de distribución de medicamentos, un Servicio de Información de Medicamentos, un programa de Farmacovigilancia, y un programa piloto de seguimiento farmacoterapéutico domiciliario para pacientes con enfermedad avanzada, con el objetivo de utilizar la medicación apropiada. El sistema de distribución de medicamentos incluyó la dispensación de analgésicos opiáceos, antidepresivos, anticonvulsivantes, AINEs, ansiolíticos, esteroides, laxantes y antieméticos. Los más utilizados fueron sulfato de morfina (62%), amitriptilina (6,4%) y dextropropoxifeno (5,8%). El Servicio de Información de Medicamentos respondió a 114 consultas realizadas principalmente por un médico, concernientes a reacciones adversas (71%) y contraindicaciones (21%). El programa de Farmacovigilancia identificó 146 sospechas de reacciones adversas y las clasificó como posible (27%), probable (69%), y seguras (4%). Se atribuyeron principalmente a pregabalina y tramadol. El programa piloto de seguimiento farmacoterapéutico domiciliario atendió pacientes con diferentes diagnósticos de cáncer y se identificaron problemas relacionados con medicamentos que se clasificaron (según el Segundo Consenso de Granada) como PRM 1(5%), PRM 2 (10%), PRM 3 (14%), PRM 4 (19%), PRM 5 (24%), o PRM 6 (28%). Este artículo proporciona información relacionada al uso adecuado de medicamentos y, sobre todo ofrece una oportunidad para que los farmacéuticos mexicanos lleguen a ser parte del equipo de salud tratando de resolver los problemas relacionados con medicamentos (AU)

Pharmaceutical services in a Mexican pain relief and palliative care institute.

Neither the purchase nor the distribution of pharmaceuticals in hospitals and community pharmacies in Mexico is under the care of pharmacists. Some are under control of physicians. This report presents the results of the implementation of somef pharmaceutical services for the Jalisco Pain Relief, and Palliative Care Institute (Palia Institute), under the direction of the Secretary of Health, Government of Jalisco. The services implemented were drug distribution system, Drug Information Service, Pharmacovigilance Program, and home pharmacotherapy follow-up pilot program for patients with advanced illness, with the ultimate using the appropriate medication. The drug distribution system included dispensing of opioid pain medications, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, NSAIDs, anxiolytic drugs, steroid drugs, laxatives, and anti-emetics. The frequently used drugs were morphine sulfate (62%), amitriptyline (6.4%), and dextropropoxyphene (5.8%). The Drug Information Service answered 114 consultations, mainly asked by a physician (71%) concerned with adverse drug reactions and contraindications (21%). The pharmacovigilance program identified 146 suspected adverse drug reactions and classified them reasonably as possible (27%), probable (69%), and certain (4%). These were attributed mainly to pregabalin and tramadol. The home pharmacotherapy follow-up pilot program cared patients with different cancer diagnoses and drug-related problems (DRP), which were identified and classified (according to second Granada Consensus) for pharmaceutical intervention as DRP 1 (5%), DRP 2 (10%), DRP 3 (14%), DRP 4 (19%), DRP 5 (24%), or DRP 6 (28%). This report provides information concerning the accurate use of medication and, above all, an opportunity for Mexican pharmacists to become an part of health teams seeking to resolve drug-related problems.