Pattern of analgesic use among adults in Mysuru, Karnataka: a community-based cross-sectional survey

Abstract Background Pain is among the most prevalent health complaints globally, and analgesics rank among the most frequently consumed medications in community settings. Self-medication with analgesics is a recognised public health concern in India, yet community-level data from Mysuru, Karnataka are entirely absent from the published literature. This study aimed to describe the pattern of analgesic use among adults in Mysuru, including the sociodemographic and behavioural characteristics of analgesic users. Methods A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among 200 adults (≥ 18 years) in Mysuru, Karnataka, from September 2025 to April 2026, using convenience sampling. Data were collected via a structured Google Forms questionnaire covering sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle habits, comorbidities, analgesic agents used, indications, frequency of use, procurement methods, and awareness of adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Descriptive statistics were computed in Microsoft Excel. Results A total of 200 participants were enrolled (mean age 29.94 ± 11.57 years; female 50.5%). The population was predominantly urban (89%) and highly educated (66% graduates or above). Paracetamol was the most commonly used analgesic ( n = 133; 66.5%), followed by diclofenac ( n = 60; 30.0%), aspirin ( n = 58; 29.0%), and ibuprofen ( n = 56; 28.0%). Headache ( n = 119; 59.5%) and fever ( n = 95; 47.5%) were the leading indications. Self-medication was the predominant procurement route ( n = 91; 45.5%), with only 30.0% using analgesics on a medical prescription. Migraine was the most prevalent comorbidity ( n = 26; 13.0%). Regular use (≥ 3 times/week) was reported by 30 participants (15.0%). Gastritis and nausea/vomiting were the most widely recognised ADRs; only 52 participants (26.0%) recognised skin rash and 59 (29.5%) recognised abdominal pain as analgesic adverse effects. Conclusions Self-medication with analgesics is highly prevalent in this urban Mysuru cohort. Widespread unsupervised non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use, limited ADR awareness, and regular analgesic use in 15% of participants highlight the need for pharmacovigilance outreach and rational medicine education. The pattern of regular use in a headache-predominant cohort suggests a potential risk for medication overuse headache, which warrants formal evaluation in future studies.