Analgesia Self-Medication Practice and Pentazocine Dependency in Adult Sickle Cell Patients in Southeast Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Painful crisis is a debilitating hallmark characteristic feature of sickle cell disease (SCD). Analgesia medication is the standard of care. Self‑medication is becoming a quick fix for pain resolution for persons living with SCD. The aim of this study was to evaluate analgesia self‑medication practice and pentazocine dependency among adult sickle cell patients.

Methods: A descriptive cross‑sectional study was conducted among 111 adults with SCD attending sickle cell clinic at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Ituku Ozalla Enugu and Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakiliki (AEFUTHA) Ebonyi. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22. A P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: The proportion of adults SCD participants in the study was 45.4% from UNTH Enugu and 54.6% from AEFUTHA Ebonyi. The proportion of male and female who self‑medicated was 61.5% and 38.5%, respectively. The prevalence of analgesic self-medication was found to be 28.8%. Analgesics most and least frequently self‑administered were paracetamol 50.5% and morphine 0.9% most reported reason for self‑medication was “treatment delays in hospital” 73%. Dependency to pentazocine was 22.5%. Age was a significant predictor of self‑medication among adult SCD patients.

Conclusion: This study shows high prevalence of self‑medication and dependency to pentazocine. There should be strict regulation on the use of pentazocine.

Keywords: Analgesia, pentazocine dependency, self‑medication, sickle cell disease