- 1. Development of superbugs
- 2. Mask symptoms
- 3. Damage the liver and kidneys
- 4. Increase the risk of bleeding
- 5. Cause side effects
- 6. Causing addiction
- 7. Harm pregnancy or lactation
- What are over-the-counter medications
- How to interpret the color of the stripe on drug packaging
- How to take medicine safely
- People most at risk of taking medications without medical advice
Taking medicines without medical knowledge can be harmful to health, because they have adverse reactions and contraindications that must be respected.
A person can take a painkiller or an anti-inflammatory when they have a headache or sore throat, for example, but these drugs should not be taken if there is a contraindication or if more than 3 days have passed and the symptoms persist or appear new symptoms. In these cases, it is important to go to the doctor and avoid self-medication.
The 7 reasons for not taking medication without medical advice are:
1. Development of superbugs
The use of antibiotics on their own increases the person's risk of taking a medication unnecessarily, ingesting the wrong dose or for less time than it should, thus increasing the resistance of viruses and bacteria, decreasing the efficiency of antibiotics. This can happen when the person takes antibiotics in the form of capsules, pills, injections or even antibiotic ointments.
2. Mask symptoms
When taking painkillers, anti-inflammatories or antipyretics on their own, the person can disguise the symptoms he presents and therefore the doctor may have more difficulty in diagnosing the disease. In addition, anti-inflammatory drugs such as Ibuprofen can cause gastritis, ulcers or cause gastrointestinal bleeding, which may not be directly related to the disease, being only a side effect of the medication.
3. Damage the liver and kidneys
The use of medicines without a prescription can lead to liver poisoning, because they need to be metabolized in this organ and can accumulate.
The drugs can also impair the functioning of the kidneys, which have the function of filtering the blood and excreting the products of metabolism of the medicines in the urine. Although kidney function is more impaired in people who already suffer from kidney problems, it can also happen in apparently healthy people.
4. Increase the risk of bleeding
Some over-the-counter medications, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, can cause digestive bleeding, especially in people who have a more sensitive stomach, so it is best to avoid unnecessary intake.
5. Cause side effects
All medications have side effects, so they should only be used if they are really necessary or recommended by the doctor. In addition, certain medications should not be taken at the same time, or when they are contraindicated, as they can cause or exacerbate adverse reactions.
For example, people with asthma cannot take Ibuprofen, which can be purchased over-the-counter because they may suffer from an asthma attack, for example. Pressure medications should only be used after the cardiologist has indicated that when used improperly they can cause electrolyte imbalance, headache, dizziness and pressure drop.
In addition, allergic reactions to the medication may also appear, which can lead to the appearance of symptoms such as difficulty in breathing, pellets or swelling of the skin, for example.
6. Causing addiction
Some medications such as painkillers, anxiolytics or antidepressants, for example, can cause dependence and the need for increasing doses to achieve the same goal. For this reason, they should only be used by medical indication, and their dosage and duration of treatment must be respected.
7. Harm pregnancy or lactation
Most medications are contraindicated during pregnancy and breastfeeding, as they can harm the baby by causing fetal malformation or kidney problems. When passing through milk, the medication is also ingested by the baby, increasing the risk of developing diseases. Therefore, especially at this stage, the use of medications should only be done under the guidance of the obstetrician.
Check a list of Prohibited Pregnancy Drugs and Teas that the pregnant woman cannot take.
What are over-the-counter medications
Although some medications can be easily purchased without a prescription, such as paracetamol, ibuprofen or some cough syrups for example, they should not be consumed freely and in excess or for many days, whenever the person has a boring cough, pain persistent headache or back pain that lasts for a long time.
Pain is an alert that indicates that something is wrong, and it is necessary to investigate what is happening. By masking this symptom, the person may have a worsening of the disease. A very important precaution to take is to read the packaging and instructions for each medication before using it.
How to interpret the color of the stripe on drug packaging
The red stripe is found in remedies that can be purchased with a white prescription, such as antidislipidemics or antidiabetics. They may have mild adverse reactions, such as nausea, diarrhea or headache.
The black stripe can be found in remedies that act on the central nervous system and, generally, the prescription is blue and is retained in the pharmacy, such as antidepressants, anxiolytics or weight loss medications. Its adverse reactions can be serious, such as deep sleep, constant forgetfulness and dependence.
How to take medicine safely
To take a medicine safely you need:
- Consult the doctor to indicate the medicine to be taken, the amount and time to take it; Read the package leaflet to know the most common side effects that may arise; Do not follow the instructions of friends or family who took medicines for similar symptoms. to those that the person has, because the cause of the disease may not be the same; do not take other medicines, natural remedies or teas at the same time as the treatment, without questioning the doctor, as in some cases interaction may occur between them.
In addition, even in the case of over-the-counter medications that do not have a label, guidance should be asked for the pharmacist to make the best choice, and the physician should also be kept informed about the habit of taking a certain medication and its frequency..
People most at risk of taking medications without medical advice
Although anyone can be sick while taking a medication, the risks of developing serious health problems are even greater in:
- Babies and children: because in most cases the remedies vary with age and weight, and can impair child growth and development when the wrong formula or an exaggerated amount is given; Elderly: because they take several medicines to control different diseases and the risk of interaction is greater and because some of the organs may not work as well; Individuals with chronic diseases, such as diabetes: because it can decrease the effect of the medicine to control the disease.
Therefore, the use of medicines should only be used under medical guidance, even if it is natural.
