Unfortunately, people take the self-medication as the complete treatment for what could be wrong and, a significant number of times, end up representing worsening symptoms. I remember wrongly sending a text with prescriptions to the wrong number, and just when I realized it was the wrong number, the number called me back. It was a lady on the other side of the phone, and even when I apologized for the wrongly sent message, she asked if she could also take the medication. Of course, I declined! Did she know exactly what the medications were for? I was equally pained because she may lack access to quality healthcare and thus be desirous to take the medication. Drugs are not food, but they could help us to maintain balance, prolong life, or even kill faster.
I have always had issues with unqualified attendants at a pharmacy store (I hardly walk up to any chemist shop) where wrong drugs would be given. My fight is always on behalf of other patients who do not know exactly what they are buying but trust that the dispensary is as prescribed. Blame the physician sometimes for his handwriting. It could be intentional or not intentional, and thankfully, qualified pharmacists are able to decipher the prescriptions. I heard of a scenario where a patient was rushed to the hospital unconscious, and what was the reason? He was given an oral hypoglycemic drug by mistake, which tilted him to hypoglycemia. And hypoglycemia kills faster than hyperglycemia. So, while taking that prescription from an unqualified or even qualified physician, it's good to go through what one is taking. Though we see as a burden some patients that come back to show the physician what was prescribed, one can never be too careful.
My most recent encounter was a lady that went to a pharmacy store for a post pill, and the common ones remain Postinor 1 and 2. Probably what she told them at the pharmacy was inaccurate or what was understood was wrong. Unfortunately for her, she snapped the drug after she had taken it and put it on view once. It was a branded drug, and we have the generic as misoprostol even though there are the combined oral contraceptive pills. I corrected her quickly, and she was appreciative. For our women, who are mostly sensitive, I am careful of hormonal medications, and she was just about to fall into the trap of misusing such.
Having some drugs within one's reach could actually be lifesaving, especially as regards abating symptoms, but continuous and uncensored usage could cause more harm, such as wrong use, use of expired drugs, addictive use, or even cause drug resistance to the individual such that the organism does not respond as it should to the drug being used. We know malaria is endemic here in Nigeria, and antimalarials have suffered a great deal at the hands of the majority. Almost every headache is a sign of malaria.
I hope someday soon, quality healthcare can be made accessible and affordable to all Nigerian citizens such that there would be no justified reason to indulge in self-medication.
ALL IMAGES ARE MINE
Thank you for reading. I would love to have your comments and contributions.
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One can never be over careful when even a pharmacy can handout the right drugs. I believe that returning to a doctor after taking certain drugs for examination is way to go at least the doctor can reexamine an individual for progress rather than continually harmful use of pills we are not sure of.
Thank you for this enlightenment.
You're right, this has saved some patients from wrong dispensary
I strongly believe self medication should only be applied during situation where by a person is isolated from where they could easily have access to a doctor or like first aid, it is never a perfect substitute for a doctor's prescription.
It truly is never a substitute but having some first aid kits have saved some lives. Thank you for your kind contribution
Indeed we all should be careful about just consuming any drugs as in the case of that lady that consumed an abortion pill with her hands she would have caused herself pains.
Knowledge helps and asking saved her the inconvenience. Thank you dear
Self-medication isn't as juicy as people look it to be because it makes everything even worse, imagine treating something you do not know about and just assuming it's "malaria", the assumption isn't the right way to prescribe drugs, proper evaluation and checkups are very important.
That lady you sent that text to, I'm glad you told her she shouldn't take the drugs because if it was some persons, they would have asked her to take it. This world sha.
Malaria has taken the fall for just many ailments out there. It's good to have a health professional handy. Thank you for your kind words.
You are welcome
Having an idea of self medication can come in handy sometimes, but it is still not medically advised for one to even practice it.
You're right but having basics like paracetamol can reduce symptoms pending presentation at the hospital, for those that would