Nonprescription Drugs

Background: Self-medication is commonly practised by patients, underpinned by health beliefs that affect their adherence to medication regimens, and impacting on treatment outcomes. Objectives: This review explores the scope of self-medication practices among people with hypertension, in terms of the scale of use, types of medication and influencing factors. Method: A comprehensive search of English language, peer-reviewed literature published between 2000 and 2014 was performed.

OBJECTIVE: To apply the Bradford Hill criteria, which are widely used to establish causality between an environmental agent and disease, to evaluate the relationship between over-the-counter intranasal zinc gluconate therapy and anosmia. DESIGN: Patient and literature review applying the Bradford Hill criteria on causation. SETTING: University of California, San Diego, Nasal Dysfunction Clinic.

1. Homeopathy is an accepted form of health care in many countries worldwide. 2. Homeopathy is deeply healing, yet does so without causing side effects, tolerance, or addiction problems. 3. Homeopathic remedies are available over the counter in health food stores and some pharmacies. 4. Homeopathy is distinct from herbal medicine and does not interact with conventional treatments.

This paper proposes the emergent entanglement theory of homeopathy. This is based on the lack of evidence that choice of homeopathic medicine is important and predicts links between effectiveness of homeopathic medicines and their manufacturers. It predicts that there will be a consistent variation, in terms of outcome, between homeopaths, and between medicines made by different manufacturers, but not the specific homeopathic medicines prescribed. This theory is potentially testable.

This article describes the homeopathic tradition and considers the safety, manufacture, effectiveness and regulation of homeopathic medicines. These medicines are commonly purchased without prescription for children, so an understanding of the basis of therapy is important to ensure appropriate and safe usage. The role of integrated medicine in the National Health Service is also reviewed with identification of research priorities.

The growth in popularity of so-called "anti-aging" medicine challenges physicians to examine their attitudes about aging. Does one define aging as a predisposition to pathology or as part of the life cycle? Is longevity without the chronic diseases associated with aging a realistic goal? Anti-aging modalities being prescribed by some practitioners include hormone replacement therapies, vitamin and mineral supplements, diet, and exercise.

OBJECTIVE: The growing prevalence of multiple medicine use among elderly challenges health care. The aim was to conduct an exploratory study describing multiple medicine use from the elderly patient's perspective. METHODS: Twelve focus groups of 29 men and 30 women 65 years of age or older, using five or more medicines were analysed qualitatively. RESULTS: Initially the participants reported no problems with using multiple medicines; they felt fortunate that medicines existed and kept them alive.

Numerous vitamins, herbs, supplements, and other agents are readily available for the treatment of diabetes and obesity. Many of these products have little evidence-based medical support to prove the efficacy of these supplements. The physician must be aware that their patients are using these products and must be knowledgeable about their side effects and drug-herb interactions. Our patients have tremendous access to medical information in the lay literature and on the internet. They are using this information to gain access to various diet therapies.

Medicine sellers are widely used for fever and malaria treatment in sub-Saharan Africa, but concerns surround the appropriateness of drugs and information provided. Because there is increasing interest in improving their services, we reviewed the literature on their characteristics and interventions to improve their malaria-related practices. Sixteen interventions were identified, involving a mixture of training/capacity building, demand generation, quality assurance, and creating an enabling environment.

BACKGROUND: Despite policies that recommend parasitological testing before treatment for malaria, presumptive treatment remains widespread in Nigeria. The majority of Nigerians obtain antimalarial drugs from two types of for-profit drug vendors-formal and informal medicine shops-but little is known about the quality of malaria care services provided at these shops.