Over-the-counter medication and herbal or dietary supplement use in college: dose frequency and relationship to self-reported distress.
OBJECTIVE
A growing number of researchers have examined the use of over-the-counter (OTC) medications and herbal or dietary supplements among college students. There is concern about the efficacy and safety of these products, particularly because students appear to use them at a higher rate than does the general public.


METHODS
The authors administered surveys to college students (N = 201) to assess the frequency of use in the past week.


RESULTS
A substantial percentage reported using OTC medications (74.1%), herbal or dietary supplements (70.6%), or both concurrently (61.2%). Dose frequency of OTC medications was the best predictor of self-reported emotional distress in the past week. Higher doses of products containing pseudoephedrine or valerian were associated with self-reported anxiety.


CONCLUSIONS
These data further reflect an increasing trend toward self-medication among college students. Investigators must conduct reliability and validity studies to evaluate the clinical utility of the measurement tool developed in this study.
Stasio
Michael J
MJ
Psychology Department, University of Tampa, FL 33606, USA. mstasio@ut.edu
Curry
Kim
K
Sutton-Skinner
Kelly M
KM
Glassman
Destinee M
DM
D000328:Adult; D003710:Demography; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D015995:Prevalence; D012651:Self Medication / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012737:Sex Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D013334:Students; D014495:Universities
D004366:Nonprescription Drugs