Medicines for self-medication (over-the-counter, OTC) are available through pharmacies, in some countries they are also available in supermarkets and other outlets. The use of OTC in European Union countries shows some differences at national level, in pharmacies and in patients preference. This study aimed to completing the lists of marketed OTC in Czech Republic and Greece. Next topics are: finding out the real range of OTC products offered by pharmacies, finding and evaluating number of packages sold in pharmacies in 20 particular common OTC in 2016, and indentification of factors influencing the sales. Web pages of national drug authorities (Czech Republic, Greece) were searched to complete lists of marketed OTC in each country. Data on range of OTC drugs and sales of them were extracted from computer systems (Czech Republic) and other types of documents (Greece) kept in pharmacies. The percentage of the real range of OTC products in pharmacies was calculated as the ratio to the number of OTC in national lists. Numbers of sold packages were compared among pharmacies. Classification system ATC (anatomical/therapeutical/chemical) was employed to present findings in all parts of the research. The Czech list contained 1,160 of marketed OTC in 10 ATC (1st level), with the maximum in ATC R (243 drugs). The Greek list contained 1,254 OTC in 13 ATC (1st level), with the maximum in ATC D (272 drugs). In lists of both countries, there were detected 86 drugs identical in 9 ATC (1st level). At least one OTC in each of 10 listed ATC was found in Czech pharmacies as a part of range of products, the range of OTC in Greek pharmacies comprised 11 ATC. The highest sales (year 2016) were found in ATC R (drug ACC long tbl eff) in CR and in ATC A (drug: Imodium cps) in Greece. The differences in the range of OTC drugs and in their sales were found between Czech Republic and Greece, and between types of pharmacies inside each country. Factors influencing them were detected: ownership of the pharmacy, locality (number of inhabitants). OTC drugs pharmacy Czech Republic Greece.

• Klíčová slova
• Czech Republic, Greece, OTC drugs, pharmacy,
• MeSH
• lékárny * MeSH
• léky bez předpisu zásobování a distribuce   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• srovnávací studie MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH
• Řecko MeSH
• Názvy látek
• léky bez předpisu MeSH

Knowledge of patients about oral single-component OTC preparations containing ibuprofen, bought for their own use, was evaluated in relation to the manner of the process of communication between the pharmacist (laboratory assistant)--patient during the supply at the pharmacy. The answers of respondents were processed separately for the group of those who bought the preparation for the first time and those who had already used it for self-medication. The knowledge of contraindications and undesirable effects (judged separately) was found to be higher than 50% in both groups of respondents. Nevertheless, the patients who use the preparation repeatedly state simultaneous ignorance of undesirable effects and contraindications only in 32.2%, in contrast to the new users (60.0%). The patients who know neither contraindications nor undesirable effects of the preparation which they buy nevertheless think that they have enough information so that their self-medication can be safe (88.9% of patients using the preparation repeatedly and 80.0% of new users). Approximately a quarter of respondents in both groups under evaluation state that during the supply in the pharmacy they were not given any piece of information. Patients are passive when buying an OTC preparation and nearly 40% of them do not use the opportunity to ask for pertinent information themselves. Nearly 85% of respondents from both groups consider information gained from the pharmacy to be sufficient. When supplying an OTC preparation, in 45% of cases pharmacists (laboratory assistants) do not inquire whether the patient have already used the preparation, or whether he or she knows anything about it. The standard of counselling on self-medication in the Czech Republic should thus become more effective.

• MeSH
• antiflogistika nesteroidní škodlivé účinky   terapeutické užití   MeSH
• farmaceuti * MeSH
• ibuprofen škodlivé účinky   terapeutické užití   MeSH
• léky bez předpisu škodlivé účinky   terapeutické užití   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• neopioidní analgetika škodlivé účinky   terapeutické užití   MeSH
• průzkumy a dotazníky MeSH
• samoléčba MeSH
• vzdělávání pacientů jako téma * MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• anglický abstrakt MeSH
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• antiflogistika nesteroidní MeSH
• ibuprofen MeSH
• léky bez předpisu MeSH
• neopioidní analgetika MeSH

The use of OTC (over-the-counter) drugs containing Ibuprofen and Paracetamol in solid peroral dosage forms was researched. The questionnaire was distributed in 6 pharmacies in Athens, pharmacists interviewed the patients and recorded the answers from June to August 2014. Data from 50 patients for each substance were gathered and analyzed. The most of purchasers of Paracetamol bought it repeatedly (70.00% of respondents); Ibuprofen was preferred to be used in treating headache (81.82% of repeated users, 35.29% of the first time users), and both of the researched drugs were used with almost equal frequency in treating toothache and muscle and joint pain. Ibuprofen is used to treat awider range of symptoms than Paracetamol. People buying Paracetamol for the first time assume that it is free of side effects (73.33%) and people using it repeatedly did not observe any side effects (88.57%). The results were compared with the same research performed in the Czech Republic several years ago. Differences were detected in expecting side effects of Paracetamol (26.67% in Greece, 54.84% in the CR) and in using Ibuprofen to treat muscle and joint pain (17.65% in Greece, 47.60% in the CR).Key words: self-medication paracetamol ibuprofen Greece.

• MeSH
• ibuprofen škodlivé účinky   terapeutické užití   MeSH
• léky bez předpisu terapeutické užití   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• paracetamol škodlivé účinky   terapeutické užití   MeSH
• průzkumy a dotazníky MeSH
• samoléčba MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• srovnávací studie MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH
• Řecko MeSH
• Názvy látek
• ibuprofen MeSH
• léky bez předpisu MeSH
• paracetamol MeSH

Obesity is a chronic disease characterized by its high prevalence. Easy availability of pharmaceutical care allows pharmacies to be the first place of capture or intervention for patients who are overweight or obese. The aim of the study was to analyse the role of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in securing the safety of self-medication with orlistat. In this prospective observational study, the patients were the people who came to the IKEM Hospital Pharmacy for self-medication with orlistat over a period of May through December 2009. The data were collected by trained pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in interviews with patients when dispensing over-the-counter (OTC) orlistat. The interview was designed by fixed questions. The results were analysed using frequency analysis, GLMz and the chi-square test with the level of significance of p < 0.05. A total of 50 patients participated in the study (44 women, median age 53 years, 41 patients with body mass index > 28). 58% patients were fully indicated for self-medication with orlistat. Self-medication with orlistat was recommended to 48% patients and was refused to 22% patients because of contraindications. 24% patients had at least one interaction with orlistat and chronic drugs. Health problems were the most common motivation for weight reduction. The data obtained in this study demonstrate an important role of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in the assessment of suitability of self-medication with OTC orlistat and safe weight reduction within self-medication.

• MeSH
• laktony * MeSH
• látky proti obezitě * MeSH
• léky bez předpisu * MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• orlistat MeSH
• samoléčba * MeSH
• veřejné lékárenské služby * MeSH
• vzdělávání pacientů jako téma MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• laktony * MeSH
• látky proti obezitě * MeSH
• léky bez předpisu * MeSH
• orlistat MeSH

This study provides new empirical evidence on the changes in competition and entry decisions of pharmacies after regulatory changes. It investigates the development of the retail pharmacy market in Portugal, which underwent major regulatory changes in 2004 and 2007. Sale of OTC drugs and ownership of pharmacies were liberalized while entry restrictions related to market size and the location of new pharmacies prevailed. Our empirical strategy was based on entry models and provided indirect information on the toughness of competition and entry decisions of firms in the market. We estimated and compared the entry thresholds and their ratios before and after liberalization. Such a comparison allows to see if competition got tenser with OTC drugs deregulated. There were three main findings from the study. First, the entry thresholds decreased regardless of the number of pharmacies in the market, suggesting that room for the realization of profits is broader than it was in the past. Second, although the entry thresholds were lower in value, their increase was steeper with each incumbent in 2020, suggesting harsher price competition with new entrants. Third, the current rule of 3,500 patients per pharmacy is likely overly restrictive, pharmacies could break-even even in smaller markets.

• Klíčová slova
• entry model, market competition, regulation, retail pharmacy,
• MeSH
• farmaceutické služby * MeSH
• farmacie * MeSH
• lékárny * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• obchod MeSH
• vlastnictví MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

In the Czech Republic, special non-prescription over-the-counter (OTC) drugs are defined as the preparations which, according to their registration, can be sold over the counter without a prescription outside pharmacies. The paper outlines the development of the question of human and veterinary OTC drugs (lists of special OTC drugs, good practice of sellers of special OTC drugs) and compares the number and structure (indication group, selected medicinal products, dosage form) of human and veterinary drugs included into this group.

• MeSH
• léky bez předpisu * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• veřejné lékárenské služby zákonodárství a právo   MeSH
• veterinární léky MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• anglický abstrakt MeSH
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH
• Názvy látek
• léky bez předpisu * MeSH
• veterinární léky MeSH

The aim of the study is to assess the occurrence of inquiries to the Poison Information Centre in the years 1998-2002, concerning medical preparations containing active agents included in Act No. 79/1997 on Drugs in the group of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs which can be sold in the Czech Republic in other shops than pharmacies. It deals especially with medical preparations containing paracetamol, ibuprofen, mephenhydramine teoclate, disinfectants with iodine or 10% solutions of quaternary ammonium compounds and 3% solutions of hydrogen peroxide. The attention is focused on the quantitative assessment of inquiries, sex, age of patients, ingested dose, way of intoxication, recommended treatment and prognosis of the intoxication of the patient. The computer programme employed was established for the registrations of the calls to the Poison Information Centre. The highest number of intoxications was seen in the case of pharmaceuticals containing paracetamol and ibuprofen. The inquiries on OTC drugs that can be sold in other shops than pharmacies represent 6.3% of all calls during this five year period. The intoxication in women, suicidal attempts, ingestion of a toxic dose, rather good prognosis and a combination of several drugs predominate in the calls.

• MeSH
• léky bez předpisu otrava   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• toxikologická centra statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• anglický abstrakt MeSH
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH
• Názvy látek
• léky bez předpisu MeSH

The social sciences within health care and pharmacy provide various points of view on issues often managed by professionals both inside and outside of the health care system. This multidisciplinary perspective often leads to divergent views and sometimes seemingly contradictory viewpoints and solutions. This paper is devoted to the opinions and attitudes of Czech citizens on selected issues of healthcare and pharmacy, the elucidation of which could be a source for understanding the relationships among participants in our pluralist health care system as a whole. This article presents the results of a sociological survey featuring a representative sample in terms of gender, age and region of 1,797 respondents from the Czech population aged 15 and over. The research is focused on the issues of self-medication, choice of pharmacy, out of pocket expenditures on prescription drugs and over-the-counter medicines, experiences with side effects and finally an evaluation of patient comprehension of information leaflets accompanying health care products. According to the results presented here, at the onset of a health problem most of the population tries to treat the condition themselves before seeing a doctor (54.1% always, 30.9% sometimes). Over-the-counter drugs are purchased generally in classic pharmacies without self-service (96.1%). The choice of pharmacy is determined primarily by proximity, with much less importance placed on personal experience or lower price. According to the survey, Czechs spend around 150 CZK (€ 5.9) for over-the-counter medicines and around 143 CZK (€ 5.6) for prescription drugs per month; 77.9% of Czech citizens were shown to understand the information provided on package leaflets. These data help to understand the perception, orientation and behavior of the patient in the healthcare system, with the ultimate goal of leading to higher system effectiveness as well as greater satisfaction for all parties involved.

• MeSH
• balení léků MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• léky bez předpisu škodlivé účinky   terapeutické užití   MeSH
• léky na předpis terapeutické užití   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• motivace MeSH
• postoj * MeSH
• samoléčba MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH
• Názvy látek
• léky bez předpisu MeSH
• léky na předpis MeSH

A large survey carried out from June to September 2002 in the territory of the Czech Republic found and analyzed the knowledge of the population of the Czech Republic in relation to self-medication and o-t-c drugs and revealed the main problematic areas from the viewpoint of the public. The survey was particularly focused on the behaviour of people in relation to packaging of OTC drugs and drug information sheets, expiration period of medicaments-advertisements for OTC drugs in the media, most frequently selected indications for self-medication, self-medication in small children, financial participation in self-medication and the resultant compliance or non-compliance, and the price of the OTC drug and dosage. The results show that 68% of respondents are able to take a medicine after its expiration period. An o-t-c drug would be bought just on the basis of television advertising by 7% of respondents, and more than a half of the respondents (57%) stated they would first consult their physician or pharmacist. In the case of a sudden ailment of a one-year-old child, 80% of respondents stated that they would contact the physician, 8% opted for self-medication. Under the assumption that an OTC drug is covered by health insurance, 27% of respondents would go to the physician, though they could buy it themselves.

• MeSH
• dítě MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• léky bez předpisu terapeutické užití   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• samoléčba psychologie   MeSH
• zdraví - znalosti, postoje, praxe * MeSH
• Check Tag
• dítě MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• anglický abstrakt MeSH
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH
• Názvy látek
• léky bez předpisu MeSH

Ibuprofen (MO1AE01) is a suitable means for self-medication with regard to its relatively wide spectrum of indication, good tolerance, and safety. In the Czech Republic, OTC preparations containing ibuprofen represent frequently used medicaments. The paper examines solid divided dosage forms for oral administration. A survey based on questionnaires reveals in what indications and according to what dosing schemes the purchased preparations are used, and the paper evaluates possible risks. Strengthening of the role of the pharmacist as the provider of information on drugs, keeping patients' drug records in pharmacies, and deepening of the mutual cooperation of the physician and pharmacist would contribute to increase the safety of the use of the preparations under study.

• MeSH
• ibuprofen terapeutické užití   MeSH
• léky bez předpisu terapeutické užití   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• samoléčba statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• spotřeba léčiv MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• anglický abstrakt MeSH
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH
• Názvy látek
• ibuprofen MeSH
• léky bez předpisu MeSH