The Chamber of Pharmacies has estimated that more than 50 million euros was spent on non-prescription drugs last year, and has advised caution in self-medication.

Despite the economic crisis, the sale of pharmaceuticals was on the rise between 2010 and 2015, the Health Ministry has said, adding that the biggest growth was recorded in weight-loss drugs.

According to the Chamber of Pharmacies, the most widely sold non-prescription drugs last year were medications for cough and cold as well as pain killers. They were followed by products for digestion and stomach problems plus skin care products.

Also selling well are vitamins, minerals and food supplements, products for the treatment of the urinary system, products for vaginal and prostate problems, enteral nutrition products and products for eye care, the chamber has told the STA.

The ministry has estimated that private expenditure on pharmaceuticals in Slovenia will continue to increase, primarily because of the population ageing and unhealthy lifestyle of a part of the population.

It has also noted that the on-line sales of non-prescription drugs were on the rise as well, mainly because of lower prices. Consumers, however, still trust pharmacists in pharmacy shops the most, because they also get advice.

According to pharmacist Bor Bitenc, around one-third of people who come to a pharmacy would tell their problem and let themselves be advised, while the others know exactly what they want and buy a product without any consultations.

Bitenc believes that consumers are heavily influenced by advertisements, which gets obvious when a new product hits the market and gets widely advertised in the media.

Family medicine practitioner Nena Kopčavar Guček has meanwhile noted that the majority of people first try to solve their medical issues themselves. "A high share of people try something that is available, known or advised to them to alleviate their problems."

People usually resort to self-medication in cases of injuries, frequent infectious diseases, and even in cases of severe illnesses, including cancer and high blood pressure. When self-medication is not successful, they turn to experts.

According to Kopčavar Guček, the most damage to patients is being done by healthcare websites which are not reviewed and supervised by experts and where advice is not provided by doctors.