THE DANGERS OF SELF MEDICATION:THE NIGERIA EXPERIENCE

Let’s face it. We are involved it. You know what I am talking about. That time you took paracetamol because you had one headache that wouldn’t go away or the other time you took tetracycline because you had a stomachache. That’s right, I’m talking about self-medication.

Some may say “Yeah, so what? I have been doing it and it has been working just fine. What is the big deal?”
Self-medication is a HUGE problem and because it is so rampant in our society, It is OUR huge problem.

Most people, when they are ill, do not consult the doctor. They either buy drugs from a chemist or meet their neighbour for drugs,sometimes they even buy from mallams

Proprietary drugs which are sold by chemists include pain relievers, cough remedies, antiallergics, laxatives, vitamins, tonics, antacids and many others. Even dangerous drugs like the antibiotics and the hormones can be procured, somehow or the other, without a prescription from the doctor

Self-medication usually involves common drugs which are freely available. . It is questionable whether the benefits outweigh the potential hazards. Taking drugs without the doctor's prescription can cause poisoning, allergy, habituation, addiction, and other adverse reactions which will further delay the treatment of the sickness

The most misused drugs are the pain relievers. In fact, age old, ordinary aspirin is as effective, and even safer than any of the modern analgesics like fenamates, oxicams, or Cox-2 inhibitors like rofecoxib and celecoxib.

Similarly cLet’s face it. We are involved it. You know what I am talking about. That time you took paracetamol because you had one headache that wouldn’t go away or the other time you took tetracycline because you had a stomachache. That’s right, I’m talking about self-medication.

Some may say “Yeah, so what? I have been doing it and it has been working just fine. What is the big deal?”
Self-medication is a HUGE problem and because it is so rampant in our society, It is OUR huge problem.

Most people, when they are ill, do not consult the doctor. They either consult a chemist and obtain a medicine from his shelf, or may consult a neighbor who may be having some tablets left over from his previous illness, and readily spares them. May be most of the times nothing untoward happens on following such advice, but it can be dangerous.

Proprietary drugs which are sold over-the-counter include pain relievers, cough remedies, antiallergics, laxatives, vitamins, tonics, antacids and many others. Even dangerous drugs like the antibiotics and the hormones can be procured, somehow or the other, without a valid prescription.

Self-medication usually involves common drugs which are freely available. A study carried out in the United States showed that nearly[b] 2 billion dollars per year[/b] were spent on such remedies. It is questionable whether the benefits outweigh the potential hazards. They account for poisonings, allergy, habituation, addiction, and other adverse reactions. Above all [b]their use often delays proper treatment of the disease.
[/b]
The most misused drugs are the[b] analgesics or pain reliever[/b]s. In fact, age old, ordinary aspirin is as effective, and even safer than any of the modern analgesics like fenamates, oxicams, or Cox-2 inhibitors like rofecoxib and celecoxib.

Similarly cough remedies, antiallergics, laxatives, vitamins, tonics, and antacids can lead to serious side effects. Even lavish use of vitamins, specially the fat-soluble (A,D,E, &K) can cause problems.

finally is the availability of many[b] irrational drug combinations[/b] in the market, which expose the individual to several drugs needlessly, each of which can cause adverse effects. Very few combinations have a legitimate place in modern medicine. Yet irrational combination abound and are being used by some professionals.

Also cough remedies, antiallergics, laxatives, vitamins, tonics, and antacids can lead to serious side effects. Even lavish use of vitamins, specially the fat-soluble (A,D,E, &K) can cause negative effects to our body

finally is the availability of many irrational drug combinations in the market, which expose the individual to several drugs needlessly, each of which can cause adverse effects. Very few combinations have a legitimate place in modern medicine. Yet irrational combination abound and are being used by some professionals.

Always consult your Doctor

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