Use of analgesics in Denmark: A national survey.

People suffering from pain constitute a sizeable and heterogeneous patient group. Conventional oral analgesics are considered a cheap and safe first-line treatment. These drugs are used on both a regular and'as needed' basis and are often obtained over-the-counter (OTC). We explored patient-reported patterns of use and adverse effects of analgesics in a community pharmacy questionnaire. Eight pharmacies invited persons aged ≥18 years requesting analgesics via prescription or OTC to complete an electronic questionnaire. A total of 2,410 participants completed the questionnaire (68% female; 50% >60 years). Most participants filled a prescription for paracetamol (61%; n=842) and non-steroidal analgesics (n=363; 26%). Among OTC users, most obtained paracetamol (61%). Among prescription users, 73% (n=1,114) had their analgesic prescribed for daily use, however, of these only 61% (n=630) reported using it daily, while 35% (n=363) reported 'as needed' use. Of all prescriptions, 80% (n=898) were labelled with the standardized indication 'against pain'. Self-reported indications showed that back pain and muscle/joint pain were the most common indications. Among non-new users of OTC analgesics (n=841), 17% (n=141) used their medication daily. Finally, 90% (n=1,658) of all participants reported not experiencing adverse effects. Our findings suggest a need for continuous assessment of analgesic patterns of use after treatment initiation to inform counselling in community pharmacies and elsewhere.