| Popis: |
Data about the use of pain relieving drugs in 411 patients, collected during 24 months are presented. The patients were interviewed personally by one of the authors during a selection process. Demographic data were obtained as well as information about headaches and other pains, duration of the disease, previous headache treatment, clinical characteristics of the headache and a diagnostic hypothesis was formulated. Regarding the use of medication the following factors were considered: amount and quality of medication taken, duration of disease, person responsible for the prescription and awareness of side effects. The results showed that 82% of the patients used substances for immediate relief to headache. Eighty per cent of these patients used commercial products without ergot derivatives, 9% with ergot derivatives and 12%, both. At the same time, 27% of the patients used 3 or more commercial products. The most frequently used substance was dipyrone. Several patients used, as PRD, substances without these properties. Forty eight per cent of the patients used PRD daily or more than once a day and 63% used them for over 90 days. Thirty two per cent of the patients used 5 or more doses of PRD during one single crisis of pain. Seventy four per cent of the patients used self-medication and 81% were not aware of side effects. The present data indicate that the use of PRD is high and chronic. The main implications of this fact and preventive measures are discussed. |
