One of the sentences we doctors often hear is “Hodja, my neighbor has the same disease; X medicine was good for him, I drank the same medicine, but it was not good for me”. If we explain this very briefly; Everyone's disease is different, although people have similar complaints, there are thousands of diseases diagnosed and it is very harmful to take drugs randomly in this way.
Since we are a society that uses drugs very frequently and randomly, I have divided this article into unconscious drug use and its consequences.
Which drugs cause the most side effects?
Painkillers and antibiotics, which are the most frequently used drugs in society, are among the drug groups that cause the most adverse effects. However, every drug has the potential to cause side effects, including blood pressure medications, edema relievers, constipation medications, nervous system medications, and cream-pomades applied to the skin. In addition to the fact that these drugs can be bought from pharmacies without a prescription, we unfortunately see the side effects of unnecessary drug use as a result of being taken out of the bag and offered to neighbors/friends meetings.
What are these side effects?
Every drug has the potential to cause all kinds of side effects. The most common ones are; gastrointestinal system complaints such as nausea, abdominal pain, burning in the stomach and skin rashes. In addition, sudden kidney damage and liver failure may occur. In some cases, we even encounter reactions that start with skin rashes and involve multiple organs and can be fatal.
Are there factors that determine the occurrence of side effects of drugs?
Side effects may be seen in some people, while others may not be seen at all. Factors that determine this include the person's age, gender, genetic factors, habits such as smoking/alcohol use, the presence of multiple drug use, the body's mechanisms for metabolizing the drug and removing it from the body. For example; A patient's use of alcohol with drugs can increase the harmful effect of the drug by reducing the excretion of that drug from the body.
Should we use herbal products if they have harmful effects?
Unfortunately, herbal products are used widely and uncontrolled. The presence of "herbal", "natural" or "organic" labels on it does not indicate that these products are safe. When the content of these pills/creams sold under the herbal name is examined; Although not stated on them, toxic substances such as “arsenic, mercury” or high-dose drugs such as estrogen/cortisone were detected in most of them.
While drugs are required to pass a number of tests before being put on the market, these products sold under the herbal name are not tested in any way. It is sad that these are widely marketed, advertised unconsciously on social media accounts and even sold on the internet.
What is antibiotic resistance?
Wrong and unnecessary antibiotics Another consequence of its use. In case of a simple respiratory infection or flu, taking antibiotics immediately and using antibiotics without a doctor's recommendation is another important issue that needs to be emphasized. And it gives rise to "antibiotic resistance", which is a problem that concerns the whole society/world. means antibiotic resistance; It is the situation where the effectiveness of the antibiotic used decreases after a while on bacterial infections and the drug becomes ineffective.
Balance is a must !
After all this, of course, the conclusion that "Medicines cause side effects, so let's not use them" should not be deduced. In order to benefit from drugs, the right drug must be used in the right person, in the right disease, in the required amount and under the control of a physician. The names and boxes of the drugs used should be recorded, and in case of any side effects, a physician should be consulted.
Wish to use drugs consciously
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