Enhancing Awareness of Diclofenac as an Over-the-Counter Analgesic in the Northern Border Region of Saudi Arabia

Introduction: Diclofenac was identified by the Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee of the European Medicines Agency as a high-risk NSAID in terms of its effects on the heart and circulation when administered systemically, i.e. capsules, tablets or injections.

Objective: To evaluate the knowledge and awareness about over the counter analgesic medication (Diclofenac) among people living in northern border region – Saudi Arabia.

Methodology: Self-administered cross-sectional study conducted during a period of two months (October and November 2023) on random sample of 430 Saudi people living in the Northern Border Region. The data was analyzed by Microsoft excel program by means of Descriptive statistics.

Results: Toothache and headache were the most worried pain among participants (32%) and (31%) respectively, majority (72%) of participants buy OTC medication for pain from community pharmacy on the advice of pharmacist. Small percentage (20%) thought that medications containing diclofenac have very few side effects, 76% didn’t know any side effect of diclofenac, 47% didn’t know that diclofenac in high dose has adverse effects on kidney, 71% didn’t know that diclofenac cause gastrointestinal adverse effects. About one fifth of participants (21%) didn’t know the maximum dose of diclofenac when they use it, tablet is the preferred dosage form of diclofenac (27%) followed by granules (16%), dosage of 100 mg is the most frequently used (36%) followed by 50 mg (16%).

Conclusion: Saudi people’s knowledge about diclofenac as one member of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs was insufficient. Knowledge about related adverse effects of diclofenac was lacked which exposes to misusage that may carry accidents and severe side effects especially among high-risk population.