Waleed M. Sweileh

Self medication, over-the-counter practices and drug utilization studies are very few in Palestine. The purpose of this study is to describe and analyze the self medication patterns and over-the-counter practices in Palestine. A random sample of patients seeking self medication at community pharmacy was interviewed using a 15-item questionnaire. Social, demographic, disease information and information on drugs used for self-medication or dispensed over the counter were collected. The percentage of patients who were seeking self medication study was approximately 60%. Those patients were mostly males, educated, above the age of 40 and have a monthly income of less than 200 USD. Most patients were seeking self medication for headache, dental pains, muscle/joint pains and throat or respiratory or urinary tract infections. The drugs most commonly dispensed or purchased on a self medication basis were NSAIDs, paracetamol and anti-microbial drugs. Patient health awareness programs and pharmacist continuing education are necessary in Palestine.

*Department of

Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, An-Najah University, Nablus, Palestine. Email: [email protected]