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Data also shows a 16% growth in the vitamins, minerals and nutrients category, along with a jump in sales of the gastrointestinal therapy segment
Doctors also cautioned against repeatedly treating gastrointestinal symptoms through self-medication, particularly when symptoms persist or are accompanied by warning signs.
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Every monsoon, a bout of diarrhoea, acidity, or indigestion is a familiar problem for many Indians, often sending people to the pharmacy for quick relief. This year too, demand for medicines used for common gastrointestinal complaints has risen during the rainy season, with probiotics, laxatives, and antacids seeing higher sales in August, the data show.
The gastrointestinal therapy segment grew 11% in August, with sales of antacids rising 11%laxatives 14%, and probiotics 17%, according to data from research firm Pharmatrack.
Dr Mahendra Singh Rajput from the gastroenterology and hepatology department at Amrita Hospital, Faridabad, told News18 that the seasonal change in disease burden was reflected in hospital presentations. “The monsoon brings not only a change in the weather but also a change in the burden of gastrointestinal diseases seen in hospitals. So, it’s not surprising that sales of gastric medicine increased during this time.”
He said monsoon conditions can create favourable circumstances for gastrointestinal infections. “Monsoons are connected with high humidity, contaminated water, unsafe storage of food and increased microbial growth, leading to favourable conditions for water- and food-borne illnesses. This results in increased presentations of patients with diarrhoea, gastroenteritis, acidityindigestion, abdominal discomfort, and altered bowel habits.”
This, he said, can mean a direct increase in the use of antacids, probiotics, oral rehydration products, and other medicines for the gastrointestinal tract.
However, another expert cautioned against interpreting pharmaceutical sales alone as evidence of a surge in gastrointestinal disease.
Dr Rajeev Jayadevan, a Kerala-based gastroenterologist, said most minor diarrhoeal illnesses during the monsoon are self-limiting and can often be managed with adequate hydration and oral rehydration. “The monsoon does bring its share of minor diarrhoeal illnesses, most of which are self-limiting and can be managed at home, with appropriate fluid and oral rehydration.”
At the same time, the availability of medicines directly through pharmacies can influence sales figures, he said. “But one point to remember is that in India many medicines are purchased directly from pharmacies without a doctor’s evaluation or prescription. Prescribing practices can also influence these sales—for example, PPIs are often prescribed for non-specific gastrointestinal complaints.”
From that standpoint, Dr Jayadevan said, it is difficult to generalise from these sales data as to whether there has been an unexpected surge in gastrointestinal disease.
Other therapy segments recording growth
The vitamins, minerals, and nutrients (VMN) segment grew 16% in August, according to the data. Rajput from Amrita Hospital said this growth may be partly linked to recovery following gastrointestinal infections, although it is not as directly connected to the monsoon as gastrointestinal medicines.
“The 16% growth in vitamins, minerals, and nutrients is also important, though it is less directly related with monsoon. Gastrointestinal infections are associated with a transient loss of appetite, food intake, and nutritional status, and supplements are often used during recovery. But awareness of preventive health is also driving growth in this category,” he said.
The anti-diabetic segment recorded 15% growth, supported by continued expansion of the GLP-1 agonist categorywith tirzepatide emerging as the fastest-growing molecule.
Cardiac therapies also maintained strong growth at 15%, driven by categories including heart failure therapies, platelet aggregation inhibitors, lipid-lowering drugs, antithrombotic agents, and fibrinolytics.
According to Sheetal Saple, vice president at Pharmarack, gastrointestinal is an acute category. “Sales for most of the sub-supergroups in the gastro category start picking up from the monsoon season. If we look at long-term linear trend lines, the current sales are also in line with the linear trend.”
The data also showed a relatively modest 3% growth in anti-infectives, compared with the 11% growth in gastrointestinal therapies.
Jayadevan said this could partly reflect tighter controls around antibiotic sales. “One reassuring feature is that the overall anti-infective segment has not shown a comparable increase—it has grown by only about 3%, compared with 11% for gastrointestinal medicines. This could be the result of recent restrictions in antibiotic sales; many pharmacies have stopped dispensing them over the counter without a doctor’s prescription.”
Doctors also cautioned against repeatedly treating gastrointestinal symptoms through self-medication, particularly when symptoms persist or are accompanied by warning signs.
Rajput added, “The bigger problem is self-medication. Persistent acidity, recurrent diarrhoea, blood in stools, fever, dehydration, or severe abdominal pain should not just lead to another over-the-counter purchase. The sales curve can be seasonal, but behind it are real episodes of gastrointestinal disease that may require medical attention.”
Quick Answers
Ask News18Monsoon conditions bring high humidity, fluctuating temperatures, and increased microbial growth, which can lead to contaminated water, unsafe food storage, and food spoilage. These factors create favorable conditions for water- and food-borne illnesses, resulting in increased cases of diarrhea, gastroenteritis, acidity, indigestion, and abdominal discomfort.
Ask News18About the Author
Himani Chandna, Senior Associate Editor at CNN-News18, tracks healthcare, pharma and medical research, bringing clarity to complex science and policy.
September 18, 2026, 02:35 IST
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