Assessment of safety of pain control by non-opioid over-the-counter medications

Abstract

Non-opioid analgesics are among the most popular over the counter (OTC) drugs in Poland. One of the main reasons for the increasing risk of the drugsí side effects is their accessibility and popularization of self-medication among patients. This study analyzed and assessed the safety of selected non-opioid analgesics issued without a doctorís prescription (i.e. OTC) based on original survey, adverse effects reports from the Regional Center for Monitoring of Adverse Drug Reactions in Wroclaw, drug manufacturers, and the European EudraVigilance database. The research showed that the most commonly used non-opioid OTC analgesics are ibuprofen, paracetamol, and acetylsalicylic acid. Pharmacotherapy using these substances entails a risk of adverse effects, which increases the number of painkillers used. Pain medications should be purchased at a pharmacy and their sale should be accompanied by a pharmacistís advice.