Evaluation of the Annual Sales of Acetylsalicylic Acid, Metamizole and Paracetamol in North Cyprus: Emphasizing the Wide Paracetamol Use

Abstract

Background: Among the analgesic-antipyretic agents acetylsalicylic acid, metamizole and paracetamol are commonly used. Objective: The aim of this study was to analyse the sales of acetylsalicylic acid, metamizole and paracetamol in Northern Cyprus from the pharmaceutical wholesale companies during one year period. Methods: We collected the data of annual drug delivery to hospitals and community pharmacy stores between 1st September 2013 and 31st August 2014 from the five most prevalent pharmaceutical wholesale companies that serve in North Cyprus. Results: We noticed that oral administration routes of these three molecules were very dominant with 92.88%. Paracetamol was the most preferred with a total annual sale of 117668 boxes (65.25%). 500 mg paracetamol with 65 mg caffeine was the highest among the combined drug formulations of paracetamol (45236 boxes). Metamizole was ranked the second with 18.65%. Drug formulations containing only acetylsalicylic acid were dispensed 24909 boxes, whereas tablets higher than 325 mg were only 5232 boxes. Conclusions: Our findings showed that paracetamol was the most preferred analgesic, anti-pyretic agent compared to acetylsalicylic acid and metamizole in North Cyprus. Our results also pointed out that, the use of acetylsalicylic acid for prophylactic purposes like thromboembolic event prevention was higher than analgesic, anti-pyretic and antiinflammatory purposes.