A CROSS-SECTIONAL RESEARCH ON OVER THE COUNTER (OTC) USE OF SELF-MEDICATION IN THE INCIDENCE OF HEADACHE, VOMITING, NAUSEA AND RELATED DISEASES BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER PREGNANCY IN ASSOCIATION WITH POTENTIAL ADVERSE OUTCOMES

Objective: We aimed at the determination of the over-the-counter medication use frequency in the pregnant ladies, medicines type, information source and reason of choice for the self-medication trend. Methods: Our research was cross-sectional and descriptive in nature held at Services Hospital, Lahore. We selected sample women through face to face interviews and gathered all the data on a pre-designed from, our data comprised of demographic information, over the counter medications, illness, medicine type, medicine awareness, recommendation source and practicing reason. Data analysis was carried out through SPSS-21. Results: In the total 351 participants mean age was selected in the age limit of 18 – 45 years as (26.28 ± 10.42) years. Overall, over the counter drug users were observed as 223 patients (63.5%) before their pregnancy; 128 cases (36.5%) were reported the use of drugs in their previous pregnancy and current pregnancy cases were 133 (37.9%). Our research observed that repeated medicine was acetaminophen noticed in 58 patients (43.6%), common most illness was headache observed in 80 patients (60.2%). No awareness about the medicine was observed in 103 cases (77.4%). Conclusion: Research found that number of ladies were in the practice of over the counter medication without any awareness and prescription. Keywords: Pregnancy, Awareness and Over the counter.