Use of allopathic and complementary medicine for preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection in Mexican adults: A national survey

• Main Authors: Alan Joel Ruiz-Padilla (Author), Angel Josabad Alonso-Castro (Author), Mónica Preciado-Puga (Author), Ariadna Irais González-Núñez (Author), José Lorenzo González-Chávez (Author), Yeniley Ruiz-Noa (Author), Miriam Ortiz-Cortes (Author), Lorena Michele Brennan-Bourdon (Author), Martha Alicia Deveze-Álvarez (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Elsevier, 2021-09-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 1319-0164; 10.1016/j.jsps.2021.07.009
• Keywords: Complementary medicine; Cross-sectional study; Self-medication; COVID-19; Therapeutics. Pharmacology; RM1-950
• Source: Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal, Vol 29, Iss 9, Pp 1056-1060 (2021)

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of allopathic and complementary medicine use for preventing the infection with SARS-CoV-2 in Mexico. A descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted using an online questionnaire among general adult population (n = 16,724) of the 32 Mexican states from March to November 2020. Methods: The factors associated with the use, self-medication practice, and adverse reactions due the consumption of allopathic and complementary medicine to prevent infection with SARS-CoV-2 virus were assessed using a structured questionnaire. The suspected adverse reactions associated with the use of drugs or complementary medicine were reported. Results: The prevalence (42.9%) of allopathic and/or complementary medicine use for preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection was mainly associated with unemployment [OR:2.026 (1.722-2.283)]. Acetaminophen (n = 2272) and vitamin C (n = 3252) were the main allopathic and complementary medicine products used to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection, respectively. The prevalence of self-medication and adverse reactions was 35.3% and 4.8%, respectively. Self-medication [OR:1.930 (1.633-2.282)] and adverse reactions [OR:2.603 (2.015-3.363)] were mainly associated with individuals of low socioeconomic status. Hydroxychloroquine (21.2%) and chloroquine (15.2%) showed the highest prevalence of adverse reactions, which were mainly related to gastrointestinal disorders. Conclusion: The use of medications and complementary medicine to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection is prevalent (almost one-half of the respondents) among Mexican population, and it is mainly associated with unemployment. Self-medication and the adverse reactions derived from self-medication are also prevalent and seem to be influenced by low socioeconomic status.