Table 3.
Non-prescription medicine usage in the previous 4 weeks.
| Number of patients purchasing from: | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preparation | ‘other’ source | the pharmacy | Total | % of patients |
| Gamolenic acid | 29 | 4 | 33 | 28.2 |
| Multivitamin | 18 | 5 | 23 | 19.7 |
| Paracetamol-based analgesic | 2 | 18 | 20 | 17.1 |
| NSAID | 0 | 13 | 13 | 11.1 |
| Vitamin C | 10 | 2 | 12 | 10.3 |
| Vitamin B | 8 | 2 | 10 | 8.5 |
| Cod-liver oil | 6 | 4 | 10 | 8.5 |
| Other minerals | 5 | 4 | 9 | 7.7 |
| Herbal/plant extracts | 9 | 0 | 9 | 7.7 |
| Calcium preparations | 8 | 0 | 8 | 6.8 |
| Laxative | 2 | 5 | 7 | 6.0 |
| Vitamin E | 5 | 1 | 6 | 5.1 |
| Other fish oil | 4 | 0 | 4 | 3.4 |
| Antacid | 1 | 3 | 4 | 3.4 |
| Topical NSAIDS | 0 | 4 | 4 | 3.4 |
| Vitamin B12 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2.6 |
| Phenylalanine | 3 | 0 | 3 | 2.6 |
| Hyperbaric oxygen | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1.7 |
| Cannabis | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0.9 |
| Miscellaneous* | 15 | 2 | 17 | 14.5 |
| ** Totals | 55 (47.0%) | 45 (38.5%) | 74 | 63.2 |
*
miscellaneous included: antihistamines (three patients), garlic (2), homeopathic remedies (1), cranberry juice, brewers yeast, digestive enzymes, lecithin, royal jelly (2), ‘tired leg’ gel, thyroid stimulating hormone.
**
Note: columns do not add up as some patients purchased multiple products.