[A single-day survey in pharmacies on the consumption of analgesics and antipyretics]

A one day long survey of antalgics and antipyretics consumption was carried out in 6 pharmacies of a middle-size city. It first shows the majority of medical prescription (62.2%) over self medication (29.4%) and over pharmaceutic advice (8.4%) at the drug delivery. Women are the main consumers, especially in the youngest ones (20-40 years old). Paracetamol is the most used drug; in this indication, the search for the less expensive drug seems usual. Drug abuse cannot be demonstrated in this survey; the consumption of this category of drugs appears as important although for a short duration; and most of the time for pain considered as moderate and trivial. The possibility to carry out such surveys and possibly clinical trials in private pharmacies appears as an opportunity.