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. 2019 Mar 20;53(17):1105–1110. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2018-100069

Table 3.

Prescriptions dispensed to athletes

Overall
n=670
n (%)*
Olympic Games
n=613
n (%)*
Paralympic Games
n=57
n (%)†
Analgesics and anti-inflammatory agents 214 (31.9) 198 (32.3) 16 (28.1)
 NSAIDs 148 (69.2) 138 (69.7) 10 (62.5)
 Acetaminophen/propacetamol 43 (20.1) 39 (19.7) 4 (25.0)
 Tramadol 15 (7.0) 13 (6.6) 2 (12.5)
 Glucocorticoids (oral) 6 (2.8) 6 (3.0) 0 (0.0)
 Others 2 (0.9) 2 (1.0)‡ 0 (0.0)
Respiratory agents 136 (20.3) 128 (20.9) 8 (14.0)
 Antihistamines 62 (45.6) 58 (45.3) 4 (50.0)
 Antitussives 35 (25.7) 32 (25.0) 3 (40.0)
 Common cold 14 (10.3) 13 (10.2) 1 (10.0)
 Decongestants 25 (18.4) 25 (19.5) 0 (0.0)
Topical/local 112 (16.7) 98 (16.0) 14 (24.6)
 Glucocorticoids 14 (12.5) 12 (12.2) 2 (14.3)
 Glucohexidine 45 (40.2) 43 (43.9) 2 (14.3)
 Carboxymethyl cellulose/hyaluronic acid 34 (30.4) 24 (24.5) 10 (71.4)
 Antibacterial/viral 19 (17.0) 19 (19.4) 0 (0.0)
Gastrointestinal agents 103 (15.4) 96 (15.7) 7 (12.3)
 Antiulcer 84 (81.6) 78 (81.3) 6 (85.7)
 Digestive 9 (8.7) 9 (9.4) 0 (0.0)
 Antidiarrhoeal 10 (9.7) 9 (9.4) 1 (14.3)
Antimicrobials (systemic) 85 (12.7) 74 (12.1) 11 (19.3)
 Antibacterials 62 (72.9) 51 (68.9) 11 (100)
 Antivirals 23 (27.1) 23 (31.1) 0 (0.0)
Others 20 (3.0) 19 (3.10)§ 1 (1.75)¶

*percentage in Olympic=Number of prescription dispensed in the category during OlympicTotal number of prescriptions during Olympic

percentage in Paralympic=Number of prescription dispensed in the category during ParalympicTotal number of prescriptions during Paralympic

‡Gabapentin.

§Amlodipine, ferrous sulfate, levonorgestrel, metformin, reconstitution fluids, salbutamol, vaccines and warfarin.

¶Topical antianginal.

NSAIDS, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.