[Consumption of drugs for the digestive system and for the metabolism by the Spanish population: study from the Health National Survey in 1987 and 1993].

In the present study the consumption of drugs used for the digestive tract and metabolism in the Spanish population according to the information from the National Health Surveys of 1987 and 1933 is featured. Samples representative of the Spanish population over the age of 16 years were designed. In 1987 and 1993, 27,786 and 21,084 people were surveyed, respectively. The consumption of drugs in the 2 weeks prior to the survey was analyzed. The consumption of these drugs did not vary from 1987 to 1993: including medicines for digestive alterations, 3.5 and 3.3%, respectively; laxatives, 1.2 and 1.4%; slimming drugs, 0.3% in both years; reconstituents, 2.8 and 2.9%. Different consumption schedules were observed in relation to age and sex in each group of drugs. The intake of these groups of drugs without medical prescription was highest in the case of slimming drugs (51.4%) and laxatives (50%). These results demonstrate how frequent the consumption of drugs for the digestive tract and metabolism is in the Spanish population.