Self-Medication practices with analgesics among medical students

Abstract

Practice of self-medication with analgesics is thought to be rampant among medical students. This study was undertaken to figure out whether there is a difference in usage of analgesics with theoretical background (third year students) to those without impartation (second year students). It is a questionnaire-based study to assess the extent and pattern of usage of analgesics among third year and second year medical students. 95% of third year students and 87% of second year students self-medicated with analgesics. Analgesics were used commonly less than once a month. The most frequently used analgesic was paracetamol (28%) in third year students whereas diclofenac (31%) in second year students for common ailments like fever and headache. Awareness of maximum daily dose of analgesic was not optimum (54%). Usage of analgesics as self-medication was high among both the batches. Concomitant use of proton pump inhibitors was high among third year students. Awareness of Maximum Daily Dose needs to be improved.