Over-the-Counter Drug Abuse

stanleyc-md (46)in #steemstem • 6 years ago (edited)

Over-the-counter drugs: Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs are medicines or drugs sold directly to a consumer without a prescription from a healthcare professional, as opposed to prescription drugs, which may only be sold to consumers possessing a valid prescription.

Drug abuse: this is the use of medications for reasons or in ways or amounts not intended by a doctor, or taken by someone other than the person for whom they are prescribed or intended for.

Contrary to popular belief, over-the-counter (OTC) drugs can be addictive and life-threatening when abused or misused. Some people are under the assumption that if they (drugs) are sold legally at a pharmacy, that they must be safe. This is not always the case.

It is a common misconception that only illegal drugs (like marijuana, cocaine) are dangerous. There are many OTC drugs with psychoactive or mindaltering properties as well as other drugs-painkillers that may lead to a number of serious medical and mental health consequences if abused/taken wrongly.

PEOPLE AFFECTED

It affects every age group from infants to teenagers, young adults, middle aged and elderly people. Some may wonder how if affects infants as they are not able to feed themselves. However, you have to factor in the fact that the parents or guardians are the ones that feed babies and also give them drugs when sick therefore including them in that pool.

It causes lots of deaths per year.

HOW WE ABUSE DRUGS

By taking more than the required dose,
Not taking it for the required duration of time
Skipping doses
Taking them for the wrong reason or illness
Taking them for more than medically specified
Use of different brands without knowing they are the same eg: acetaminofen, paracetamol, Tylenol and panadol are the same.

COMMONLY ABUSED DRUGS

Analgesics (painkillers): paracetamol, Diclofenac, piroxicam (Felvin), ibuprofen (NSAIDs-nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), tramadol (mild opioid analgesic)
Antibiotics: amoxicillin, ampiclox, flagyl, tetracycline, Chloramphenicol
Cough syrups: especially codeine containing syrups
Antimalarials: Arthemeter /Lumefantrine containing drugs like coartem, Lonart, Lumartem, Lumapil; Sulfadoxine/Pyrimethamine containing drugs (Fansidar), Quinine, Chloroquine
Extras (sedatives): Valium 5 (Diazepam) , Lexotan (bromazepam). These are not really over the counter drugs however, their sales have gradually shifted from prescription only to OTC drugs.

COMMON ADVERSE EFFECTS OF COMMONLY ABUSED DRUGS

NSAIDs(Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs): this group of drugs exacerbate or trigger the onset of stomach ulcer when used Frequently hence symptoms like upper abdominal pain and subsequent bloody stool + bloody vomit when the ulcer starts to bleed.

Antibiotics: when used wrongly or without completing the required dose, resistance can develop which means the antibiotic will have little or no chance of working when used in the future. Some people are allergic to certain drugs and this can be life-threatening. Therefore it's important to be sure before taking these drugs. Signs of allergy include, rashes on the skin, facial swelling, swollen tongue and sometimes difficulty breathing usually few minutes to hours after taking the drugs.

Antimalarials: are particularly important to be noted due to the fact that 99% of our population has taken them at one point in our lifes. Artemether/Lumefantrine (eg, coartem, Lonart) is particularly bad for women in their 3rd trimester (last 3 months of pregnancy) due to the ability of those drugs to cause hyperbilirubinemia ( Jaundice) in the children they are carrying. This causes delayed brain development when born, seizures and possibly death if severe. Fansidar is also another dangerous drug for pregnant women especially in the first trimester as it inhibits development of neurons and the brain. It can cause malformations in the unborn child. It is however safe to be used in the 2nd and 3rd trimester. Other people in general may also react to these drugs in the form of weakness, dizziness.

Codeine can cause dizziness, lightheadedness, shortness of breath

Liver failure, kidney failure may arise through overdose of certain drugs like paracetamol, gentamycin(antibiotic). Heart blocks is one of the side effects of quinine just as chloroquine causes itching in some people.

When combining drugs with alcohol, the liver damaging ability of both the drugs and alcohol increase significantly. In the same light, combining different NSAIDs increases the chances of worsening or onset of stomach ulcer.

Some people with certain illnesses should not take certain over the counter drugs. An example is people with heart problems like hypertension or arrhythmia should not take drug combinations that contain caffeine, codeine.

Combining drugs like Valium 5, lexotan with alcohol can cause serious respiratory depression which can lead to death as well as possible amnesia (forgetting things that happened mostly few hours)

PREVENTION