Over-the-counter antibiotics in Saudi Arabia, an urgent call for policy makers

Abstract

Antibiotics over-consumption is a pandemic that has a tremendous cost on the overwhelmed healthcare system. The accessibility of antibiotics coupled with the misconception of public toward those drugs both of which implicated in the use and misuse of antibiotics. The aim of this study was to investigate the perception of the community toward antibiotics, its purpose and harmfulness, in addition to the accessibility of those drugs as over the counter and without prescriptions. We also investigated the behavior toward antibiotic prescriptions when perceived unnecessary. This is a cross-sectional study in Riyadh-Saudi Arabia based upon a structured self-administered questionnaire. The study included 473 individuals with a mean age of 27 years old. Forty eight percent (n=227) of the participants obtain antibiotics without prescriptions. Ninety two percent (n=208) of those noted pharmacist counseling as their method of acquisition. Self-prescription noted in 8.4% (n=19). Viral illnesses accounted for the highest percentage for seeking antibiotics in 35.5% (n=166) more commonly among females. Thirty one point eight percent (n=149) used antibiotics for analgesia while 13.7% (n=64) believed in their prophylactic use. We also noted that the prevalence of sharing antibiotics is 19.7%. The perceived unnecessary prescriptions uncovered 122 of the participants who reported throwing the prescribed antibiotics away after acquisition. Dispensing antibiotics without prescription is an issue that mandates a political intervention and implementation of the existing laws that prohibit dispensing without proper prescription. We advocate public health measures targeting both healthcare providers and the public on the use and misuse of antibiotics.

“Antibiotics kill things very quickly” - consumers’ perspectives on non-prescribed antibiotic use in Saudi Arabia

“…Medicines intended for self-medication are called over-the-counter medicines and are available without a medical prescription. In Saudi Arabia, for example, the accessibility of antibiotics over-the-counter (OTC) without prescriptions is an important factor that contributes to the public’s behaviour in respect of self-medicating [ 5 ]. Findings from a study conducted in 2010 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, showed that antibiotics could readily be obtained without a prescription in 244 (78%) of 327 pharmacies [ 6 ].…”

Knowledge About Prescribing Antibiotics for Patients With Acute Pharyngitis and Its Associate Factors Among Primary Health Care Physicians at Ministry of Health Makkah Al-Mukarramah City, 2016.

“…Regarding knowledge questions (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18), a score of 1 was given to right answer which is the first choice for all questions except number 36 the right answer is the second choice. The total score was computed by summation of scores and it was 18, the range was (0-18).…”

Analisis Perilaku dan Faktor Penyebab Perilaku Penggunaan Antibiotik Tanpa Resep di Surabaya

“…Terdapat sebuah penelitian yang menghitung jumlah apotek di Surabaya yang melayani pembelian antibiotik tanpa resep dokter. 24 10,25 Hasil penelitian yang dilakukan di Surabaya dan diperkuat dengan bukti-bukti terpublikasi tersebut menegaskan besarnya penggunaan antibiotik tanpa resep dokter oleh populasi pada rentang usia produktif. Salah satu pertimbangan kelompok usia produktif dalam menggunakan antibiotik tanpa resep dokter adalah efektivitas biaya.…”