Les antis histaminiques et l’automédication

Abstract

Antihistamines today constitute a vast drug family, widely consumed throughout the world and by different categories of society, this family is subdivided into two essential classes, the first is called H1 antihistamines, which are divided into two generations:  First generation: those who have the ability to cross the BBB.  Second generation: those who have little or no ability to cross the BBB. And the second called H2 antihistamines which have an agonist action could evolve towards an antagonist action and result in therapy by inhibition of gastric secretions In our thesis, we carried out a field survey concerning the rate and frequency of consumption of antihistamine drugs in Algeria, either in the context of self-medication, the advice from community pharmacists or under a medical prescription by a medical practitioner As well as, the collection of data from the questionnaires in the vicinity of community pharmacists, allowed us to analyze the responses, we use the statistical analysis program represented by spss, also the program allowed us to make a comparison between: antihistamines The most consumed, by either medical prescription or self-medication. Self-medication is considered the use of medications to treat self-diagnosed health symptoms or disorders, or the intermittent or continuous use of prescribed medications for chronic or recurring illnesses or symptoms. Self-medication is practiced in several forms: -Purchase of non-prescription drugs from the pharmacy. -Collection of medicines in the family pharmacy. -Reuse of medicines already prescribed by a doctor and stored at home. - Uses a drug on his own initiative without seeking advice from health professionals. -Adjustment by the patient of a medical prescription by increasing or decreasing the dosages of the prescribed drugs. Before any treatment, it is necessary to know what the health problem in question is. Only the ailments that everyone can easily recognize can reasonably be in the domain of self-medication. When the symptoms are doubtful, violent or persistent, it is strongly recommended to consult a doctor for a more in-depth examination. The same is true when no improvement is felt after taking adequate medication.