title: Comparison of the pattern, efficacy, and tolerability of self-medicated drugs in primary dysmenorrhea: a questionnaire based survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the pattern, efficacy, and tolerability of self-medicated drugs and to assess the adequacy of their dose in primary dysmenorrhea (PD).
  
  
  METHODS
  A survey using a self-developed, validated, objective, and structured questionnaire as a tool was conducted among subjects with PD. Statistical analysis was carried out using Chi-square test and ANOVA with post-hoc Tuckey's test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 641 respondents, 42% were self-medicated. The pattern of drugs used was: Dicyclomine, an unknown drug, mefenamic acid, mefenamic acid + dicyclomine, and metamizole by 35%, 29%, 26%, 9%, and 1% of respondents, respectively. Mefenamic acid + dicyclomine, the combination was the most efficacious in comparison to other drugs in moderate to severe dysmenorrhea. There was better tolerability with mefenamic acid + dicyclomine group compared to other drugs. Sub-therapeutic doses were used by 86% of self-medicating respondents.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevailing self-medication practices were inappropriate in a substantial proportion of women with inadequate knowledge regarding appropriate drug choice, therapeutic doses, and their associated side effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Ramya
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sugumar
authors.forename: Vasundara
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Krishnaiah
authors.forename: Gokul Shetty
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Channaveera
authors.forename: Shilpa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mruthyunjaya
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004025:Dicyclomine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004177:Dipyrone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004412:Dysmenorrhea / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008528:Mefenamic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010276:Parasympatholytics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012651:Self Medication / Q000379:methods*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D010276:Parasympatholytics; D008528:Mefenamic Acid; D004025:Dicyclomine; D004177:Dipyrone
keywords: Efficacy; primary dysmenorrhea; self-medication; survey; tolerability