PharmEasy Blog

Side Effects And Dangers Of Self Medication!

India, the largest democracy in the world, is the second-largest populous country in the world and it is said that for every 1700 Indian citizens, there is only one doctor! No wonder, the cases of self-medication are on the rise.

But with mothers, grandmothers, aunts, uncles and of course, pados-wali aunty, who needs doctors? Yes, we are regularly advised to have a random tablet/capsule/syrup for any ailment and sadly, we end up doing so. In fact, such is the case that people prescribe doses of antibiotics and other powerful drugs by themselves, never bothering to consult the doctor. Unfortunately, self-medication has increased many health issues.

What are the dangers of self-medication?

Self-medication is considered okay by many of us. It is just a  paracetamol tablet or some ‘safe’ antibiotic we believe we are ingesting as going to the doctor can be time-consuming and expensive. But there are side-effects to this and is not at all a healthy practice.

The idea of self-medication even for small health issues can lead to complications. People tend to pop pills as they are popping candies. Medicines such as pain relief drugs, cough syrups 1, laxatives, antibiotics, anti-allergy medicines, vitamins and antacids are easier to acquire. But what we do not realize is that opting for self-medication makes us prone to allergies, drug dependence and even addiction.

Unfortunately, there is very little or almost no awareness of the disadvantages of self-medication. Sadly, we still go ahead and take doses randomly and don’t even check the composition of the medicine and are clueless about the side effects of these on our bodies.

Side effects of self-medication

Popping pills may get instant relief, but we don’t realise they are not free of side effects.2

Drug dosage

Self-medication is never encouraged. We do not know about its dosage.2 We do not know how the drug should be taken, its side effects or its reactions. This means we underestimate its strength. Here, ignorance is not bliss.

People do self-medication because it is instant and of course, there is no expense of the doctor. But when eventually, they suffer from severe health issues, their medical expense increases two-fold. Self-medication as a habit can damage one’s health irrevocably, causing disabilities and even premature death.

In a nutshell

Consult a doctor for the correct diagnosis of your symptoms or illness
Take medicines only after consulting a doctor
Do not discontinue an ongoing treatment unless advised to do so by your doctor

References

  1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9355716/
  2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3915367/
  3. Hughes CM, McElnay JC, Fleming GF. Benefits and risks of self medication. Drug Saf. 2001;24:1027–37

Also Read: Vaginal Burning After Sex: Research-Based Reasons and Relief Options

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.

Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.

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What Are PM Narendra Modi’s Thoughts On Taking Antibiotics Without Prescription?

Self-medication has been a growing problem off- late. While some argue saying that it provides relief when in pain, in the long run, it is advised to never take antibiotics without a doctor’s prescription.One of the key points put forth by PM Narendra Modi in his radio programme ‘Mann Ki Baat’ was that- ”Self-medication in the use of antibiotics can lead to antibiotic resistance.” This voice for concern is much needed as India is now facing an alarming increase in the number of devastating reports on the drug addiction menace.The government is taking all the steps needed to make sure that the citizens of this country buy medications only with a valid prescription in support. As per a PLOS Medicine study, about 58,000 neonatal deaths is attributed to sepsis resistant to first-generation antibiotics. PM Modi says that the government is committed to stop antibiotic resistance. As an initiative starter, every antibiotic medicine strips now have a red line to warn you.Describing it as a socio-medical problem, the best way to curb the menace is by ensuring that family, friends, society, government and the law work come together to fight it. Antibiotic-resistant infections are a fast-growing problem and the only way to curb the problem is to ensure that we use antibiotics wisely and only when necessary. Read more about the dangers of self-medication here:The Dangers & Side effects of Self-MedicationAnother key issue pointed out by the Prime Minister is that we take the completion of anti-biotic dosage very seriously. It is very important for a patient to complete the entire course of the medication as prescribed by the doctor. Treatments cannot be left halfway because of signs of improvement in the condition. By doing so we are only helping the bacteria get more sturdy and difficult to treat. Incomplete antibiotic dosage can have lethal repercussions and can do your body more harm than you think you are saving yourself from, by cutting down your antibiotic consumption.  Here’s a blog explaining why it is essential to complete your prescribed antibiotic dose-Antibiotics: Importance of Completing Prescribed DosageAs citizens of this country, it is important for us to value and celebrate our rights to access good healthcare and not exploit it. We at PharmEasy, aim to join hands with this initiative to help raise awareness about the perils of self-medication and the importance of completing dosage.  Also Read: Natural Antibiotics: A Guide to Nature’s Healing PowerDisclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.

Side Effects And Dangers Of Self Medication!

India, the largest democracy in the world, is the second-largest populous country in the world and it is said that for every 1700 Indian citizens, there is only one doctor! No wonder, the cases of self-medication are on the rise.

But with mothers, grandmothers, aunts, uncles and of course, pados-wali aunty, who needs doctors? Yes, we are regularly advised to have a random tablet/capsule/syrup for any ailment and sadly, we end up doing so. In fact, such is the case that people prescribe doses of antibiotics and other powerful drugs by themselves, never bothering to consult the doctor. Unfortunately, self-medication has increased many health issues.

What are the dangers of self-medication?

Self-medication is considered okay by many of us. It is just a  paracetamol tablet or some ‘safe’ antibiotic we believe we are ingesting as going to the doctor can be time-consuming and expensive. But there are side-effects to this and is not at all a healthy practice.

The idea of self-medication even for small health issues can lead to complications. People tend to pop pills as they are popping candies. Medicines such as pain relief drugs, cough syrups 1, laxatives, antibiotics, anti-allergy medicines, vitamins and antacids are easier to acquire. But what we do not realize is that opting for self-medication makes us prone to allergies, drug dependence and even addiction.

Unfortunately, there is very little or almost no awareness of the disadvantages of self-medication. Sadly, we still go ahead and take doses randomly and don’t even check the composition of the medicine and are clueless about the side effects of these on our bodies.

Side effects of self-medication

Popping pills may get instant relief, but we don’t realise they are not free of side effects.2

Drug dosage

Self-medication is never encouraged. We do not know about its dosage.2 We do not know how the drug should be taken, its side effects or its reactions. This means we underestimate its strength. Here, ignorance is not bliss.

People do self-medication because it is instant and of course, there is no expense of the doctor. But when eventually, they suffer from severe health issues, their medical expense increases two-fold. Self-medication as a habit can damage one’s health irrevocably, causing disabilities and even premature death.

In a nutshell

Consult a doctor for the correct diagnosis of your symptoms or illness
Take medicines only after consulting a doctor
Do not discontinue an ongoing treatment unless advised to do so by your doctor

References

  1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9355716/
  2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3915367/
  3. Hughes CM, McElnay JC, Fleming GF. Benefits and risks of self medication. Drug Saf. 2001;24:1027–37

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.

Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.

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