Portugal reports high non-prescription medication use

According to the 2025 National Health Survey (INS 2025) released by the National Institute of Statistics (INE), 33.2% of the Portuguese population aged 15 and older consumed non-prescription medications in 2025.

Consumption of non-prescribed drugs is particularly prevalent among younger demographics. In the 25 to 34 age group, 38.6% reported taking non-prescription medication in the two weeks prior to the survey, compared to 33.9% who used prescribed drugs. The highest rate of non-prescription use was recorded in the 35 to 44 age group at 40.4%.

Regionally, the Algarve reported the highest proportion of non-prescription medication use at 38.6%, followed by Greater Lisbon at 38% and Alentejo at 26.2%. Despite these regional variations, the INE noted that the consumption of prescribed medications remained higher than non-prescription use across all regions.

Regarding prescribed treatments, hypertension (27%) and cholesterol or triglycerides (24.4%) were the most common conditions associated with regular medication use. Additionally, significant portions of the population reported regular use of medications for insomnia (14.7%), anxiety (12.1%), and depression (9.3%).