It is estimated that more than half of the medicines are prescribed, dispensed or sold inappropriately, and that half of the patients do not take them correctly, according to the World Health Organization, WHO.
In Cali the situation can be even more critical, as a consequence of self-medication. A study, published in the Cuban Magazine, Farmacia (2014) found that the prevalence of self-medication was 7%, that amoxicillin was the antibiotic with the highest consumption; respiratory tract conditions the main reason for consultation and the pharmacy or drugstore salesperson, the person who most advised the use of these medications.
“To this is added the lack of information that patients receive about the indications, contraindications, dosage, effects and most common adverse reactions that they may present when consuming any medication,” he points out. john fernando trejospharmaceutical chemist, Medical Center.
The professional says that it is very common for a pharmacy to formulate the so-called “marriage”, which is nothing more than a “cocktail”, or a combination of two or three medications: an antibiotic, an analgesic and an antihistamine, to treat viral states. (flus).
“A toxic bomb for the body, which is not formulated by a doctor, but by the pharmacist and which can cause serious adverse effects”, says the pharmaceutical chemist.
According to Trejos, this situation exposes a reality of neighborhood pharmacies and drugstores, attended by personnel who do not have adequate training and adequate knowledge of medicines, generating an irrational and irresponsible use that puts a population that trusts in risk at risk. blindly on the information provided.
“People believe the pharmacist more than the doctor himself. In addition, he has it in the neighborhood and the consultation does not cost him ”, emphasizes the pharmaceutical chemist.
According to the professional, this lack of information and ignorance of the risks of the indiscriminate consumption of medicines leads to making many mistakes and threatening health and physical integrity.
“It is popular belief that some drugs are harmless. The inappropriate use of antibiotics represents one of the highest risks”, says Trejos.
He explains that short treatments, without medical indication, make the bacteria grow stronger and grow, to the point of losing effectiveness against them and developing more resistant microorganisms.
Anti-inflammatories, too, are among the drugs of inappropriate use. Continuously or for long periods, it can cause kidney damage. Antihistamines can affect behavior and alertness, “when the necessary precautions are not taken, the person feels drowsy and can have home, car or work accidents,” says Trejos.
According to the pharmaceutical chemist, there are many factors that contribute to self-medication, such as the lack of access and opportunity to the health system, which leads people to self-prescribe.
“The suggestion of a friend or relative – says Trejos and continues – the influence of advertising, easy access to medicines without a medical prescription and the recommendation of the pharmacy or drugstore salesperson, among others, contribute to self-medication.”
He emphasizes that it is necessary to take into account that not all organisms react the same to a drug. “Before using it, the patient must be comprehensively evaluated, taking into account pathologies such as; hypertension, diabetes, hypo and hyperthyroidism, kidney failure, pregnancy and others, with the risk of exacerbating the disease and generating serious adverse events ”, he says.
Trejos adds that it is important to develop strategies from the Ministry of Health, with control measures in the sale of medicines and ensure professionals in pharmacies and drugstores, with adequate education and information on medicines.
“Universities, health professionals, insurers and health providers, among others, with the implementation of campaigns that allow raising awareness about the risk of inappropriate use of medicines”, finally points out the pharmaceutical chemist , of Medical Center.