Short communication. Frequency of dispensing paediatric medicines with high sugar content by pharmacists in Barcelona.
OBJECTIVE
To determine which high sugar cough syrups sell most frequently in pharmacies in Barcelona.


METHODS
300 pharmacies in 10 districts of Barcelona (Spain) were visited and data collected on the type of syrup-based medicines dispensed most often over a 3-month period in 2008.


RESULTS
Data was collected in 142 out of 300 pharmacies. The percentage of the medicines sold by group of antibiotics (sweetener) were: Augmentine (aspartame) 5.72%; Clamoxyl (sucrose) 3.28%; Ceclor (sucrose) 3.66%. In the anti-inflammatory group: Junifen 2.0% (saccharine sódic); 3.59%, Junifen 4.0% (sodic sucrose); 4.35%, Apiretal Codeine (sucrose); 0.31%, Dalsy (sucrose) 39.35%; Febrectal (sodic saccharine): 0.89%.


CONCLUSIONS
It is very important to advise parents, pharmacists, paediatricians, and paediatric dentists about low-sweetener paediatric medicine alternatives to control the high content sucrose medicines. The aim should be to reduce the intake of over the counter medication.
Salinas Noyola
A
A
Dept. of Paediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, International University of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain.
Guinot Jimeno
F
F
Barbero Castleblanque
V
V
Bellet Dalmau
L J
LJ
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D000996:Antitussive Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D002326:Cariogenic Agents; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D010592:Pharmaceutic Aids / Q000737:chemistry; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000737:chemistry*; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013030:Spain; D013395:Sucrose; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013549:Sweetening Agents
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000996:Antitussive Agents; D002326:Cariogenic Agents; D010592:Pharmaceutic Aids; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D013549:Sweetening Agents; D013395:Sucrose