We now take more pills than ever before. Is this doing more harm than good?
Have you ever taken a tablet prescribed to you by a family member or friend when you had a migraine, stomachache or because of stress related conditions?
We live in a time and age where everyone wants a quick fix for all of their problems. Dealing with the everyday pressures and responsibilities that life carries with it can really overwhelm a person. People deal with life’s problems differently; while some take medicines, there are others who run to illegal (harmful) drugs, others to family and there are many who even give up on themselves.
However, through all of this stress, people have found an easier way to deal with their problems and life’s struggles and that is to pop a pill (over-the-counter medicines).
Anxiety, depression or other mood disorders, heartburn, sleeping problems, bipolar or eating disorders, are some of the health conditions why people take such medicines. Quick-fix solutions such as painkillers, antibiotics, tablets for acidity or any other “over-the-counter” pills that they can turn to have become the norm.
While it is alright to take a tablet as prescribed by a doctor in moderation to treat a particular health condition, (fever/migraine, etc.) it is NOT ALRIGHT to make it a way of life! However, most people who take medicines for their mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety, etc. who take their medicines for long, extended periods of time often find themselves addicted.
These medicines are sometimes highly addictive and while a person is already struggling to fight the health condition, the side effects of the prescribed medicine worsen his/her road to recovery. How do we know when to taper off or discontinue such medicines? Instead of helping a person, they may be the source of mind-altering confusion and create more problems to deal with than there already were!
In India, it is very easy to get a hold of these ‘non-prescription’ health remedies and they don't require a doctor’s presciption to buy them. In fact, they have become a mainstay of Indian healthcare, as most people self-medicate based on the advice from their friends and relatives. Drug addiction causes a lot of human distress and the worst part is, when an individual becomes resistant to it.
These medicines don't even come with labels, which inform a person the purpose of the medication and how to take it safely. There is a considerable amount of ambiguity regarding the OTC list in India in the minds of drug regulators, doctors, the public and pharmacists. There is no well-defined OTC list that can be referred to.
This is extremely different from countries such as UK, US and China where a stringent policy, well-defined legal policy is set up. In India, if a medicine is not on the ‘prescription-only’ list then it is easy to get a hold of. In fact, there are very few legal restrictions on on the OTC market.
Some people may also have certain pre-existing psychiatric conditions or lead stressful life circumstances which may result in the misuse and abuse of over-the-counter tablets. These medications can also cause severe side-effects such as such as sleep problems, blunted appetite, headaches, weight loss, weight gain, stomach aches, moodiness, acidity, cough & cold, diarrhoea, nasal congestion, fever, irritability, dizziness, increased blood pressure, nervousness, fatigue, drowsiness, etc.
Most people who have been prescribed a particular medicine for their symptoms and might not even face any problems, even if the medicine is itself addictive. However, periodic and routine check-ups are essential. It is an unfortunate myth that ‘prescribed medicines’ are inherently safe.
There are many dangers of long-term prescription medicines and its abuse. Psychological dependency is one of the main reasons why people get addicted to the drug. What people who get addicted to ‘certain pills’ don't realise is that there could be many physical changes that may happen to the brain- which also may lead to negative impacts in the areas of cognitive function, behaviour and emotional health. It can even cause erratic behaviour, lack of stability, emotional disturbances and in turn this may cause a lot of relationship difficulties with family, friends, neighbours, co-workers, extended family, etc.
Painkillers often top the the doctor's "to be used with caution list". Dr Behram Pardiwala, internal medicine expert, Wockhardt hospital points out that patients pop in painkillers like paracetamol and aspirin for all kinds of pains, right from back pain to menstrual cramps."An overdose of painkillers can lead to severe acidity, liver toxicity, bleeding and ulcers" he says.
Dr Altaf Patel- the Director of Medicine, Jaslok Hospital & Research Centre has also pointed out that excessive use of painkillers an damage the heart and brain and even negate the effects of blood thinners.
"Patients who consume such pills for a long time also have kidney and liver damage without consulting a doctor" says Dr. Manjusha Agarwal general physician with Global Hospitals who has also treated patients addicted to tablets like crocin and combiflam for stomach ulcers and kidney and livery ailments. Dr. Anil Ballani - a consulting general physician at Hinduja Healthcare Surgical also says that their excessive usage can even dry up the blood in the bone marrow.
Over usage of cough syrups. pills for acidity, sleeping pills and antibiotics all carry many harmful side-effects with them. It is a very well known fact that over-dosage of such prescribed medicines can even lead to death. Heath Ledger – the actor died at the tender age of 28 just because of drug abuse.
Its not the usage of these medicines that is the real problem but it is the addiction that is harmful. One of the main reasons for the increase in taking pills is about the general increase in depression. This pill-popping phenomena is not at all fun, but is more about feeling sad.
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