Self-medication: Why you should not experiment with life

We often take pills for common illnesses like fever, colds, cough and headache, without bothering to consult a doctor. But, like taking these pills for granted, we are also doing the same with life. Like Silver Ainebyona. When the Nyarutarama resident got cold, he rushed to a pharmacy at MTN centre and got cold cap. It came without a doctor’s diagnosis or prescription.Of course, it can help, but the health risk is enormous. It’s akin to tinkering with life.“A minor health issue which could be resolved easily with the doctor’s advice may become a major problem over time. Symptoms may diminish temporarily with self-medication, but it would become difficult for a doctor to correctly diagnose and treat later,” said Dr David Masembe, an internal medicine specialist.Dr Masembe says one could become addicted to prescription drugs such as antacids, cough syrups and pain relievers.Some antibiotics such as penicillin or sulpha drugs can cause severe reactions in the body for some people. These could be fatal.According to Dr Samuel Kagali, incorrect dosage will not cure and will prolong recovery. On the other hand, over-dose may damage liver, kidneys and other organs. “Indiscriminate use of antibiotics; these could, over a long time, lead to antimicrobial resistance. Consequently, the antibiotic may become ineffective when taken in the future,” Dr Kagali said.“The most commonly misused medicines are painkillers. Painkillers can induce gastritis and can also increase risk of stroke by four times in patients with high blood pressure,” he said. “This could unfavourably affect the unborn child, causing congenital anomalies and birth defects. Unlike other facets of self-care, self-medication involves the intake of drugs, which have the potential to be beneficial or harmful.” He said improper use of drugs can have serious health implications, especially for children, the aged, and in people with special physiological conditions such as pregnancy and lactation. Self-medication, even for minor illnesses, according to Lalitha Suppiah, a medical expert in India, could lead to medical impediments. Suppiah says many powerful drugs such as pain relievers, cough remedies, anti-allergies, purges, antibiotics, antacids and vitamins are sold over-the-counter (OTC). “Self-medication with OTC medicines could cause allergy, habituation, and addiction. For example, excessive use of vitamins can cause hypervitaminosis, or vitamin poisoning,” Suppiah said. She added that taking pills without a doctor’s prescription, even if the illness is inconsequential, could have serious consequences on one’s health.