Drugs for dizziness Patients are often ill-advised

Drugs for dizziness: Often bad advice
Patients who want to get a non-prescription drug because of dizziness in the pharmacy, are sometimes not or often insufficiently advised. This has been research by the NDR consumer and business magazine "market" on NDR television.

Many go to the pharmacy instead of the doctor
Although health experts warn that dizziness must always be taken seriously, many sufferers first seek help in the pharmacy instead of going to the doctor. About one in three adults suffers from dizziness during their lifetime. The sales figures for over-the-counter medicines for dizziness have risen steadily in recent years. Anyone who goes to the pharmacy because of dizziness, is sometimes not or often insufficiently advised, reports the "NDR" in a press release. According to a test customer of "market" in seven out of ten pharmacies immediately remedies were sold, instead of sending the woman directly to the doctor. However, depending on the cause of the dizziness, this can have life-threatening consequences. For example, the symptoms may be from a brain tumor or may be a sign of a stroke.

When dizziness, those affected often receive adequate advice. (Image: Stasique / fotolia.com)

Pharmacists must advise their customers
The pharmacologist and head of the Department of Health Economics, Health Policy and Health Services Research at the University of Bremen, Professor Gerd Glaeske, considers the sample result unacceptable. In most cases, the promised effect of the over-the-counter medicines against dizziness is not proven by studies. "In some situations, where actually the advice is in the foreground, they still make cash," criticized the expert. In fact, the most expensive of the samples was sold most frequently in the sample. According to the professional code, pharmacists are actually obliged to advise their clients. The pharmacy association ABDA commented on a "market" request in writing: "The role of the price in the selection of a product can not be assessed on a flat-rate basis." The criticism of the consulting service is taken seriously. (Ad)