Dangers of self-medication

Shocking dangers of self-medication - Ezenwa Lilian Oluchi

 Guilty as charged!!! I am aware that all or most of us use self-medication. Some people will insist that since they have a fever, they should take a known medication for it or that they previously used this medication when they experienced stomach aches. Many people choose to self-medicate because they believe it to be more affordable and cost-effective, but in reality, doing so greatly risks your health and life.

Bukola, a final-year agricultural extension student at the Federal University of Technology, once mentioned that “she couldn't recall the last time she went to the hospital” this is because her illness was usually just malaria. Whenever she feels down, she instead goes to the counter to buy white vitamin C and anti-malaria medications.

Ayo, a product designer, stated in a conversation that once he realizes he has low blood pressure, he immediately heads to the place where he planted the leaf he named "hospital is too far" to gather some leaves, boil them, and then drink. The level of his blood rises immediately.

Similarly, Chilee a young lady of 25years once had ear pain, she went to a counter to get pain relief which contains Diclofenac without knowing she had developed an ulcer some months ago. Obviously, after taking the pain relief, she had a serious stomach upset.

What is self-medication

In a clear understanding, self-medication is taking medicine without consulting a doctor. The most common forms of self-medication are:

• Taking prescriptions from friends that have similar issues.

• Using an old prescription i.e repeating drugs taken before because you noticed the same symptoms.

• Asking Mr. Google; this form of medication when you type the symptom of an illness, Google diagnoses and recommends treatments.

Side effects of self-medication

This should be taken into serious consideration that drugs react differently to people's bodies and also when taken alongside other medication. Mr A took a particular pain relief that may not be good for Mr B considering other health challenges Mr B may have. Self-medication may keep your symptoms under control while delaying the diagnosis of the underlying problem. Delays in receiving the right diagnosis and treatment might have serious complications. So, seeing a doctor is a need drug dosage

 

Drug dosage

The patient might not be aware of the proper dosage to consume, which is yet another drawback of self-medication. Excessive doses might harm vital organs in the body or cause the worst health conditions.

In essence, if serious health issues emerge as a result of self-medication, the patient will wind up in the hospital, where costs will undoubtedly increase by at least threefold.