Cohort profile: The Dynamic Analyses to Optimize Ageing (DYNOPTA) project

Self-medication among the study respondents ranged from 18% to 36% between 1992 and 2004. The most frequent classes of complementary and alternative medicines were vitamins and minerals, herbal medicines and nutritional supplements, with younger individuals and women more likely to use them. For over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, the most commonly used were analgesics, laxatives and low-dose aspirin. Use of OTC medicines seemed to be done in accord with indications officially approved by the Australian medicine agency. Future work should examine risks associated with the concomitant use of complementary and alternative medicines, prescription and OTC medicines.
National Health and Medical Research Council (410215); NHMRC Fellowships (#366756 to K.J.A. and #316970 to P.B.)