Table 4. Self-medication by drug groups and comparation with other studies on students.
DRUGa | Our study (%) | Previous studies (%) | Reference |
analgesics | 55.4 | 81.3–87.2 | [2] b, [8], [25], [33] |
vitamin supplements | 45.7 | 11.1–54.4 | [24], [33], [34] |
antipyretics | 41.5 | 74.8 | [33] |
antibioticsc | 38.9 | 6.0–58.8 | [2] b, [8], [25], [33], [34] |
decongestants | 26.8 | 12.7–45.3 | [2] b, [8], |
mineral supplements | 17.1 | N/A | |
histamine antagonists | 14.7 | 6.6–41.6 | [8] |
herbal preparations | 14.0 | 17.0–32.4 | [8], [25], [35] |
sedativesc | 13.0 | 12.0–29.0 | [25] |
antidiarrhoeals | 12.3 | 18.7–30.6 | [8] |
corticosteroids | 10.0 | 18.0 | [8] |
antimycoticsc | 7.4 | N/A | |
“morning after” pills | 6.5 | N/A | |
oral contraceptives | 4.8 | N/A | |
laxatives | 3.9 | <1 | [36] |
supplements for body mass reduction | 2.1 | 7.8 | [37] |
antidepressantsc | 2.0 | N/A | |
anabolic steroids | 1.0 | 3.3 | [38] |
1.9% respondents additionally stated that they did not know what medications they had self-prescribed.
only first year students.
prescription-only drugs.