Trends of acetaminophen overuse among ambulatory patients in Lebanon

Acetaminophen (APAP), also known as paracetamol, is used by millions of people worldwide for its antipyretic and analgesic properties. At therapeutic doses, APAP is effective and safe. However, the long-term use and the ingestion of inappropriately high doses pose substantial risks to APAP users. AP...

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Main Author: Ramadan, Wijdan H. (author)
Other Authors: El Kassis, Joanna S. (author), Kabbara, Wissam K. (author), El Khoury, Ghada M. (author)
Format: article
Published: 2016
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10725/6827
http://libraries.lau.edu.lb/research/laur/terms-of-use/articles.php
http://ijrpsonline.com/pdf/1918.pdf
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author Ramadan, Wijdan H.
author2 El Kassis, Joanna S.
Kabbara, Wissam K.
El Khoury, Ghada M.
author2_role author
author
author
author_facet Ramadan, Wijdan H.
El Kassis, Joanna S.
Kabbara, Wissam K.
El Khoury, Ghada M.
author_role author
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Ramadan, Wijdan H.
El Kassis, Joanna S.
Kabbara, Wissam K.
El Khoury, Ghada M.
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2016
2017-12-18T11:44:13Z
2017-12-18T11:44:13Z
2017-12-18
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv 2249-3522
http://hdl.handle.net/10725/6827
Ramadan, W. H., El Kassis, J. S., Kabbara, W. K., & El Khoury, G. M. Trends of acetaminophen overuse among ambulatory patients in Lebanon: an observational study. International Journal of Research in Pharmacy and Science, 6(3), 41-45.
http://libraries.lau.edu.lb/research/laur/terms-of-use/articles.php
http://ijrpsonline.com/pdf/1918.pdf
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv en
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv International Journal of Research in Pharmacy and Science
dc.rights.*.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Trends of acetaminophen overuse among ambulatory patients in Lebanon
an observational study
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv Article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
info:eu-repo/semantics/article
description Acetaminophen (APAP), also known as paracetamol, is used by millions of people worldwide for its antipyretic and analgesic properties. At therapeutic doses, APAP is effective and safe. However, the long-term use and the ingestion of inappropriately high doses pose substantial risks to APAP users. APAP has been the leading cause of acute liver injury across the globe. No studies previously assessed APAP usage patterns in Lebanon, the objective of the study is to evaluate the appropriateness of APAP use among the community pharmacy patients across Lebanon as a first step to understand and postulate safety recommendation. A cross-sectional survey was performed in 45 pharmacies randomly selected across Lebanon. A 17-item questionnaire was used to record patterns of APAP use among the Lebanese adult population.2160 participants were found taking APAP or APAP containing products with a mean age of mean 40.83±16.36. The prevalence of acetaminophen use as single ingredient was 46.8%, while 53.2% were using APAP combination products. One in ten participants ingested a total daily dose of more than the recommended 4 g. Half of APAP users reported taking the drug daily for “as long as they needed it” before consulting a healthcare professional. Heavy alcohol intake was reported by 30.4% of the users and 8% of the users suffered from liver disease. The study identified APAP over users among a significant percentage of community pharmacy patients in Lebanon. It is essential to raise awareness among patients on the appropriate use of APAP as well as the compelling risks of concomitant chronic ingestion of alcohol and other hepatically metabolized substances.
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
format article
id LAURepo_2fcedd7c06c4598d560ecdf42a2c922a
identifier_str_mv 2249-3522
Ramadan, W. H., El Kassis, J. S., Kabbara, W. K., & El Khoury, G. M. Trends of acetaminophen overuse among ambulatory patients in Lebanon: an observational study. International Journal of Research in Pharmacy and Science, 6(3), 41-45.
language_invalid_str_mv en
network_acronym_str LAURepo
network_name_str Lebanese American University repository
oai_identifier_str oai:laur.lau.edu.lb:10725/6827
publishDate 2016
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spelling Trends of acetaminophen overuse among ambulatory patients in Lebanonan observational studyRamadan, Wijdan H.El Kassis, Joanna S.Kabbara, Wissam K.El Khoury, Ghada M.Acetaminophen (APAP), also known as paracetamol, is used by millions of people worldwide for its antipyretic and analgesic properties. At therapeutic doses, APAP is effective and safe. However, the long-term use and the ingestion of inappropriately high doses pose substantial risks to APAP users. APAP has been the leading cause of acute liver injury across the globe. No studies previously assessed APAP usage patterns in Lebanon, the objective of the study is to evaluate the appropriateness of APAP use among the community pharmacy patients across Lebanon as a first step to understand and postulate safety recommendation. A cross-sectional survey was performed in 45 pharmacies randomly selected across Lebanon. A 17-item questionnaire was used to record patterns of APAP use among the Lebanese adult population.2160 participants were found taking APAP or APAP containing products with a mean age of mean 40.83±16.36. The prevalence of acetaminophen use as single ingredient was 46.8%, while 53.2% were using APAP combination products. One in ten participants ingested a total daily dose of more than the recommended 4 g. Half of APAP users reported taking the drug daily for “as long as they needed it” before consulting a healthcare professional. Heavy alcohol intake was reported by 30.4% of the users and 8% of the users suffered from liver disease. The study identified APAP over users among a significant percentage of community pharmacy patients in Lebanon. It is essential to raise awareness among patients on the appropriate use of APAP as well as the compelling risks of concomitant chronic ingestion of alcohol and other hepatically metabolized substances.PublishedN/A2017-12-18T11:44:13Z2017-12-18T11:44:13Z20162017-12-18Articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/article2249-3522http://hdl.handle.net/10725/6827Ramadan, W. H., El Kassis, J. S., Kabbara, W. K., & El Khoury, G. M. Trends of acetaminophen overuse among ambulatory patients in Lebanon: an observational study. International Journal of Research in Pharmacy and Science, 6(3), 41-45.http://libraries.lau.edu.lb/research/laur/terms-of-use/articles.phphttp://ijrpsonline.com/pdf/1918.pdfenInternational Journal of Research in Pharmacy and Scienceinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:laur.lau.edu.lb:10725/68272021-03-19T10:43:11Z
spellingShingle Trends of acetaminophen overuse among ambulatory patients in Lebanon
Ramadan, Wijdan H.
status_str publishedVersion
title Trends of acetaminophen overuse among ambulatory patients in Lebanon
title_full Trends of acetaminophen overuse among ambulatory patients in Lebanon
title_fullStr Trends of acetaminophen overuse among ambulatory patients in Lebanon
title_full_unstemmed Trends of acetaminophen overuse among ambulatory patients in Lebanon
title_short Trends of acetaminophen overuse among ambulatory patients in Lebanon
title_sort Trends of acetaminophen overuse among ambulatory patients in Lebanon
url http://hdl.handle.net/10725/6827
http://libraries.lau.edu.lb/research/laur/terms-of-use/articles.php
http://ijrpsonline.com/pdf/1918.pdf