{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,30]],"date-time":"2025-10-30T11:41:44Z","timestamp":1761824504996,"version":"3.37.3"},"reference-count":21,"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,9,20]],"date-time":"2024-09-20T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1726790400000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,9,20]],"date-time":"2024-09-20T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1726790400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"}],"funder":[{"name":"Universit\u00e4tsmedizin Greifswald"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["link.springer.com"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Sci Rep"],"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title><jats:p>We analyzed data from positively tested COVID-19 outpatients to describe self-medication with OTC drugs and use of other remedies against symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infection. We specifically considered their type and frequency, as well as associations with patient characteristics, and reasons for use. Data were collected between May 1, 2020 and February 22, 2021 with two questionnaires in an observational cohort study with PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2-positive adult outpatients in the district of Western Pomerania in Germany. 523 out of 710 outpatients (74%; 340 women and 183 men) reported using drugs and other remedies to relieve COVID-19-symptoms. Overall, participants reported utilization of 1282 finished dosage products or remedies, including 213 different ingredients. In the population of 710 outpatients, utilization of ibuprofen (26%), acetaminophen (21%), metamizole (14%), and acetylsalicylic acid (10%) was most commonly reported. Phytopharmaceuticals, herbal and animal products as well as vitamins and minerals were also frequently reported. Among the 523 participants who used drugs and other remedies, most commonly mentioned reasons for use were headache (40%), other kinds of pain (e.g. myalgia; 37%), fever (24%) and cough (16%). Our analysis showed that a majority of the participants tried to alleviate COVID-19-symptoms using drugs and other remedies. Especially analgesic and antipyretic agents, followed by herbal medicines, were used very frequently.<\/jats:p><jats:p><jats:italic>Trial registration:<\/jats:italic> German Register for Clinical Studies DRKS00021672, first registration on December 1st, 2020.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-024-72440-w","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,9,20]],"date-time":"2024-09-20T12:02:59Z","timestamp":1726833779000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["Individual use of self-medication and other remedies in COVID-19 outpatients in Western-Pomerania"],"prefix":"10.1038","volume":"14","author":[{"given":"Svea","family":"St\u00fcdemann","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0006-7159-6704","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Eik","family":"Sch\u00e4fer","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2905-0362","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Klaus","family":"Hahnenkamp","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1670-5534","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mladen V.","family":"Tzvetkov","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3087-971X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Stefan","family":"Engeli","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,9,20]]},"reference":[{"key":"72440_CR1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"m1036","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.m1036","volume":"368","author":"E Mahase","year":"2020","unstructured":"Mahase, E. Covid-19: WHO declares pandemic because of \u201calarming levels\u201d of spread, severity, and inaction. BMJ 368, m1036 (2020).","journal-title":"BMJ"},{"key":"72440_CR2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1093","DOI":"10.1007\/s00103-021-03394-x","volume":"64","author":"J Schilling","year":"2021","unstructured":"Schilling, J. et al. The different periods of COVID-19 in Germany: A descriptive analysis from January 2020 to February 2021. Bundesgesundheitsbl 64, 1093\u20131106 (2021).","journal-title":"Bundesgesundheitsbl"},{"key":"72440_CR3","first-page":"2100920","volume":"26","author":"T Harder","year":"2021","unstructured":"Harder, T. et al. Effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 infection with the Delta (B.1.617.2) variant: Second interim results of a living systematic review and meta-analysis, 1 January to 25 August 2021. Euro. Surveill. 26, 2100920 (2021).","journal-title":"Euro. Surveill."},{"key":"72440_CR4","unstructured":"Deutsche Gesellschaft f\u00fcr Internistische Intensivmedizin und Notfallmedizin (DGIIN), Deutsche Interdisziplin\u00e4re Vereinigung f\u00fcr Intensiv- und Notfallmedizin (DIVI), Deutsche Gesellschaft f\u00fcr Pneumologie und Beatmungsmedizin (DGP), Deutsche Gesellschaft f\u00fcr Infektiologie (DGI). S3-Leitlinie\u2014Empfehlungen zur Therapie von Patienten mit COVID-19. Version 9.1. https:\/\/register.awmf.org\/assets\/guidelines\/113-001l_S3_Empfehlungen-zur-Therapie-von-Patienten-mit-COVID-19_2024-01_1.pdf (2024)."},{"key":"72440_CR5","unstructured":"European Medicines Agency. COVID-19 medicines. Authorised COVID-19 treatments. https:\/\/www.ema.europa.eu\/en\/human-regulatory-overview\/public-health-threats\/coronavirus-disease-covid-19\/covid-19-medicines#ema-inpage-item-14490 (2024)."},{"key":"72440_CR6","unstructured":"European Medicines Agency. Lagevrio. https:\/\/www.ema.europa.eu\/en\/medicines\/human\/EPAR\/lagevrio (2024)."},{"key":"72440_CR7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1184882","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2023.1184882","volume":"11","author":"Y Zheng","year":"2023","unstructured":"Zheng, Y., Liu, J., Tang, P. K., Hu, H. & Ung, C. O. L. A systematic review of self-medication practice during the COVID-19 pandemic: Implications for pharmacy practice in supporting public health measures. Front. Public Health 11, 1184882 (2023).","journal-title":"Front. Public Health"},{"key":"72440_CR8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"808","DOI":"10.3390\/antibiotics11060808","volume":"11","author":"OS Ayosanmi","year":"2022","unstructured":"Ayosanmi, O. S. et al. Prevalence and correlates of self-medication practices for prevention and treatment of COVID-19: A systematic review. Antibiotics 11, 808 (2022).","journal-title":"Antibiotics"},{"key":"72440_CR9","first-page":"104482","volume":"82","author":"AB Shrestha","year":"2022","unstructured":"Shrestha, A. B. et al. The scenario of self-medication practices during the covid-19 pandemic; a systematic review. Ann. Med. Surg. (Lond). 82, 104482 (2022).","journal-title":"Ann. Med. Surg. (Lond)."},{"issue":"11","key":"72440_CR10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0259317","volume":"16","author":"A Quincho-Lopez","year":"2021","unstructured":"Quincho-Lopez, A., Benites-Ibarra, C. A., Hilario-Gomez, M. M., Quijano-Escate, R. & Taype-Rondan, A. Self-medication practices to prevent or manage COVID-19: A systematic review. PloS one 16(11), e0259317 (2021).","journal-title":"PloS one"},{"key":"72440_CR11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"7249","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-022-11103-0","volume":"12","author":"E Sch\u00e4fer","year":"2022","unstructured":"Sch\u00e4fer, E. et al. Course of disease and risk factors for hospitalization in outpatients with a SARS-CoV-2 infection. Sci. Rep. 12, 7249 (2022).","journal-title":"Sci. Rep."},{"key":"72440_CR12","first-page":"3","volume":"6","author":"C Heidemann","year":"2021","unstructured":"Heidemann, C. et al. Health situation of adults in Germany\u2014Results for selected indicators from GEDA 2019\/2020-EHIS. J. Health Monit. 6, 3\u201325 (2021).","journal-title":"J. Health Monit."},{"key":"72440_CR13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"795","DOI":"10.1007\/s00103-013-1669-6","volume":"56","author":"H Neuhauser","year":"2013","unstructured":"Neuhauser, H., Thamm, M. & Ellert, U. Blood pressure in Germany 2008\u20132011: Results of the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Adults (DEGS1). Bundesgesundheitsbl. 56, 795\u2013801 (2013).","journal-title":"Bundesgesundheitsbl."},{"key":"72440_CR14","first-page":"103","volume":"2","author":"H Knopf","year":"2017","unstructured":"Knopf, H., Pr\u00fctz, F. & Du, Y. Use of medicines by adults in Germany. J. Health Monit. 2, 103\u2013109 (2017).","journal-title":"J. Health Monit."},{"key":"72440_CR15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1043","DOI":"10.1007\/s00103-004-0923-3","volume":"47","author":"R Beitz","year":"2004","unstructured":"Beitz, R., D\u00f6ren, M., Knopf, H. & Melchert, H.-U. Self-medication with over-the-counter (OTC) preparations in Germany. Bundesgesundheitsbl. Gesundheitsforsch. Gesundheitsschutz. 47, 1043\u20131050 (2004).","journal-title":"Bundesgesundheitsbl. Gesundheitsforsch. Gesundheitsschutz."},{"key":"72440_CR16","first-page":"26","volume":"6","author":"A Richter","year":"2021","unstructured":"Richter, A. et al. Health-promoting behaviour among adults in Germany\u2014Results from GEDA 2019\/2020-EHIS. J. Health Monit. 6, 26\u201344 (2021).","journal-title":"J. Health Monit."},{"key":"72440_CR17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"883","DOI":"10.1007\/s40266-014-0217-x","volume":"31","author":"J Jerez-Roig","year":"2014","unstructured":"Jerez-Roig, J. et al. Prevalence of self-medication and associated factors in an elderly population: A systematic review. Drugs Aging 31, 883\u2013896 (2014).","journal-title":"Drugs Aging"},{"key":"72440_CR18","unstructured":"Federal Union of German Associations of Pharmacists (ABDA). German Pharmacies\u2014Figures, Data, Facts 2022. https:\/\/www.abda.de\/fileadmin\/user_upload\/assets\/ZDF\/ZDF22\/ABDA_ZDF_2022_Brosch_english.pdf (2022)."},{"key":"72440_CR19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"868","DOI":"10.1007\/s00103-013-1667-8","volume":"56","author":"H Knopf","year":"2013","unstructured":"Knopf, H. & Grams, D. 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Infect."}],"container-title":["Scientific Reports"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41598-024-72440-w.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41598-024-72440-w","content-type":"text\/html","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41598-024-72440-w.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2024,9,20]],"date-time":"2024-09-20T12:06:02Z","timestamp":1726833962000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41598-024-72440-w"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2024,9,20]]},"references-count":21,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,12]]}},"alternative-id":["72440"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s41598-024-72440-w","relation":{},"ISSN":["2045-2322"],"issn-type":[{"type":"electronic","value":"2045-2322"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2024,9,20]]},"assertion":[{"value":"8 April 2024","order":1,"name":"received","label":"Received","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"6 September 2024","order":2,"name":"accepted","label":"Accepted","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"20 September 2024","order":3,"name":"first_online","label":"First Online","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"The authors declare no competing interests.","order":1,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Competing interests"}},{"value":"The conduct of the study was in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki 1964 and its current version from 2013 and approved by the Ethics Committee of the University Medicine Greifswald (internal ethics committee registration BB 059\/20).","order":2,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Ethics approval"}},{"value":"Written informed consent was obtained from all participants included in the study.","order":3,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Consent to participate"}}],"article-number":"21971"}}