Abstract
Background: A majority of people suffering from functional abdominal complaints treat themselves with OTC medication. Aim: To gain information on symptoms and their interpretation in patients self-treating abdominal cramping and pain with a spasmolytic (butylscopolamine). Method: 4,680 questionnaires were distributed by 306 pharmacists in Germany to patients suffering from abdominal complaints and buying butylscopolamine. Key findings: Questionnaires from 1,539 respondents were returned, and 1,417 could be evaluated. Abdominal cramping was the major reason for buying butylscopolamine. Only a minority of respondents had consulted a general practitioner (27.3%) and even less a specialist (12.5%). Only a minority of subjects met expert criteria for irritable bowel syndrome (13%). There was a large overlap between self-reported dysmenorrhoea and bowel symptoms (35%). Conclusions: Real life conditions do not seem to be well covered by expert criteria. Differentiating bowel origin from uterine origin in pelvic pain syndromes seems especially problematic. This may particularly apply to the OTC market.
Highlights
Recent market research has shown that up to 46% of subjects living in the community report abdominal cramping and pain [1]
4,680 questionnaires were distributed by 306 pharmacists in Germany to patients suffering from abdominal complaints and buying butylscopolamine
Differentiating bowel origin from uterine origin in pelvic pain syndromes seems especially problematic. This may apply to the OTC market
Summary
Recent market research has shown that up to 46% of subjects living in the community report abdominal cramping and pain [1]. These are the most common symptoms of the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), but IBS is associated with changes in bowel habits and disordered defecation (diarrhoea/constipation). The majority of sufferers from abdominal cramping and pain or IBS use self-medication with over-the-counter (OTC) drugs to relieve their symptoms [4,5]. Differentiating bowel origin from uterine origin in pelvic pain syndromes seems especially problematic
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