Survey of Usage and Awareness of Ibuprofen Among the Syrian Population

Abstract

Ibuprofen is a non-selective NSAID. This drug inhibits both COX-1 and COX-2. It is commonly used to manage some conditions in Syria, especially pain. This research aimed to assess the awareness and use of ibuprofen among the Syrian population. A survey was conducted on social networking sites during January, February, and March 2024 to achieve this purpose. 217 responses were collected. Most participants were female (65%) and between 20 and 30 years old (83.9). Most participants had taken ibuprofen 80.9%. 45% use ibuprofen as a pain reliever. 74.4% responded that they can get ibuprofen from the pharmacy without a prescription. Half of the participants believe that the recommended dose of ibuprofen to relieve pain is 400 mg every 8 hours for an adult. Only 23.5% of participants had experienced side effects when taking ibuprofen, mainly stomach pain (55%). The first alternative drug to ibuprofen among participants was paracetamol 32%. The treatment plan of 69.8% of participants includes the combination of ibuprofen with paracetamol. The results of this survey demonstrated high consumption of Ibuprofen in Syria. Indeed, the surveyed Syrians had a good understanding of this medication.