So, from March 1 to March 22, 21.1 million packages of vitamins were sold in Russian pharmacies. This is 31% more than for the same period last year (then 16.03 million packages were sold).
Sales growth is also recorded in the sedative drug category. In March of this year, 11.4 million packages were sold, which is 15% more than a year earlier (there were 9.98 million packages).
Analysts also note that sales of vitamins and sedatives have been steadily increasing since the beginning of this year.
So, while in January and February, an average of 4–5 million packages of vitamins were sold per week, in mid-March, weekly sales of these products exceeded 9 million packages.
According to therapist Lyudmila Lapa, the growth in sales of these drugs may be associated with the dissemination of information about coronavirus infection. The doctor also warned that the uncontrolled use of sedatives is dangerous to health. The same goes for vitamins, she noted.
“Hypervitaminization is a disease. Until we know what is happening in the body with its own vitamins, vitamins cannot be taken uncontrollably. You need to check first. If there was no preliminary visit to a doctor, then you should be careful with vitamins, ”said Lapa in an interview with RT.
Analysts previously found that due to the spread of coronavirus in Russia increased sales of toilet paper, wet wipes, soap and other personal care products.