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. 2018 Feb;26(2):211-216.
doi: 10.1016/j.jsps.2017.12.009. Epub 2017 Dec 15.

Top 10 most used drugs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 2010-2015

Osama A AlKhamees  1 , Khaled A AlNemer  2 , Mohammed W Bin Maneea  3 , Faisal A AlSugair  4 , Bassam H AlEnizi  5 , Adel A Alharf  6
Affiliations

Top 10 most used drugs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 2010-2015

Osama A AlKhamees et al. Saudi Pharm J. 2018 Feb.

Abstract

Medications usage has become a significant part of contemporary life. Many studies indicate that there is an excessive use and a considerable waste of medicines. This descriptive study aims at identifying the most used medicines in Saudi Arabia from 2010 to 2015 according to the statistics of specialized companies in the field. Comparison of the most commonly used drugs with those in the United States aims at clarifying similarities and differences. The results showed that the use of antibiotics and analgesics still accounted for the bulk, followed by proton pump inhibitors and anti-diabetics respectively, then anti-hyperlipidemic agents and erectile dysfunction treatments. The causes of this overuse vary according to the studies concerned between the self-medications and the over-prescription of the medication and the failure of the diagnostic and treatment procedures (malpractice). The recommendations are the strict application of prescribed and non-prescribed dispensing systems and the further establishment and application of national guides in the diagnosis and treatment of communicable diseases. The repetition of such studies is useful in reviewing health policies and regulations related to health practice in general and pharmacological policies in particular.

Keywords: Antibiotics; Health policy; Medication usage; OTC; Prescriptions; Self-medication; Top drugs.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The trend of the top 10 sold drugs in KSA during the years 2010–2015 (the volume unit is Million).
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
The pattern of the top 10 prescribed drugs in USA during the years 2010–2015 (the volume unit is Million).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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