Drug misuse

Be careful:

Medicines are to help us cope with diseases and unwanted health conditions. Taking medication without proper medical prescription or self medication can be potentially dangerous. As an example, the tragic death of Elvis Presley was due to misuse of prescription drug.

Some common misuses:

• Taking any pain killer when there is some pain can lead to unprecedented effects. When required, these drugs will not work.
• Sleeping tablets are often taken when having too much of stress or sleeplessness. This can lead to addiction and also may affect other drug efficacy in the body in future. Also higher doses will be required in future.
• Too much consumption of cold relief and headache relief tablets can also become ineffective in future.
• Termination of antibiotic course prematurely can cause development of resistant bacteria.

Note:

• Please be responsible for your own health.
• Try to take the minimum amount and minimum number of medicines possible.
• Adhere to doctors instructions as much as possible.
• Do not take any medicine without your doctor's knowledge.
• Always finish the prescribed course.

Compiled by: Indrajit Sinha; Last updated: 19.11.07© Medhospital Foundation

There is no generalization possible in medicine. The pages included in this website are purely educational and have been presented for information purpose only. Each section has been prepared with utmost care but should not be used as a substitute for your own physician's advice and care. Please see conditions for use.