Self-medication is an important pillar of healthcare

In self-limiting diseases such as acute respiratory infections, patients primarily expect relief of their symptoms, the aim being to reduce suffering and thus improve their quality of life. The results of a meta-analysis of two studies conducted in line with recognized scientific standards show that the positive effects of the dry ivy leaf extract EA  575® are visible and subjectively noticea ...

Long-term use of proton pump inhibitors (PPI) may lead to gut flora imbalance, which may be restored using probiotics. The study demonstrated the probiotic effects of B. clausii on gut microbiota health following PPI-induced dysbiosis using the Simulator of the Human Intestinal Microbial Ecosystem® (SHIME) model. The probiotic specifically improved microbial diversity and butyrate levels, among ot ...

With a prevalence of 14 – 30% in Spain, constipation impacts quality of life (QoL) and general well-being in the affected population. A survey conducted through Spanish pharmacies among 100 consumers who purchased Macrogol  4000 to alleviate constipation symptoms, evaluated their perception on QoL improvement and effectiveness on constipation symptoms. After 14 days of treatment, a ...

The efficacy of 1,8-cineole in treating acute rhinosinusitis has been repeatedly demonstrated in randomised-controlled double-blind trials [1, 2]. Now, a non-interventional trial under everyday conditions has shown that significantly greater improvements in quality of life can be achieved when taking cineole capsules – on their own or combined with other drugs – than with monotherapy using deconge ...

Switches of oral antihistamines (OAHs) from prescription drug to over-the-counter (OTC) status may raise safety concerns due to misuse or abuse, as seen with first-generation antihistamines. A real-world study by Carnovale et al. [1] showed no difference in number of adverse events after switching second generation OAHs to OTC, indicating a similar safety profile and supporting the use of larger p ...