Insomnia is a problem faced by many Poles, and the reasons for this condition vary.
The problem of insomnia affects many Poles, the causes of this condition are varied. Patients affected by this problem often seek easy and simple solutions. They are helped by the not entirely responsible marketing of pharmaceutical companies.
When a certain analgesic containing paracetamol 500 mg combined with diphenhydramine 25 mg, a first-generation antihistamine, was advertised on television, pharmacists became aware of a worrying phenomenon whereby the above-mentioned drug was used in a manner inconsistent with its intended use. The trade name and the way this drug is advertised in the media creates a false impression among some patients that it is a sleep aid. The advertising claims that it is a very safe medicine that can be taken with other medicines, e.g. for high blood pressure.
Pharmacy staff are quite often confronted by uninformed patients who are told that it is not a 'sleep' medicine, but is a painkiller and they should not combine it with other over-the-counter (OTC) non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
In my work, I have encountered a situation where a regular pharmacy patient regularly buys one pack of 50 tablets at a frequency of once every two, then once a week. When asked what hurts him and how long the painful symptoms last, he surprisingly replied that nothing hurts him and that he uses the drug for sleep and since he started taking it, he is finally getting enough sleep and will not exchange this drug for any other....