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8 Good Reasons To Stop Self-Medication

By Sowmiya Prasad

Got a fever? Let me swallow an antipyretic. A headache, come on, and swallow a pain killer... Now I can't stop swallowing an antibiotic. This is something people usually do and if you fall in this category, you certainly need a big deal of advice. Popping pills like any other elite group of educated class without a doctor's instruction has now become a common happening and it's time to take a look at the darker side of self-medication.

Self-medication and popping pills can cause trouble to your entire system and leave you in distress. Medicines need to be advocated with great care and only under professional advice. Here we bring to you the 8 good reasons why you should stop self-medication.

8 Good Reasons To Stop Self-Medication

You may not be aware of your illness
One of the potential dangers of self-medication is that you may end up misdiagnosing your illness. You may sometime have a minor problem and self-medication could lead to a complex problem and you may have to pay the price in terms of your health and money.

You may not get the dose right
A certain amount of dose is necessary for a particular illness and you may not know the right dose as the doctor. A wrong dose may lead to complications and may also lead to prolonged recovery. Over dose also carries with it the dangers of the internal organs getting affected severely.

Foresee an addiction
Over a period of time, you may get addicted to swallowing pills and this could further lead to complications. So beware! Improper use of antibiotics over a long time may also cause something called anti-microbial resistance. This is a condition in which the body fails to respond to the antibiotics.

You carry a risk of stroke
The mostly commonly chewed medicines are the pain killers and they considerably increase the chances of stroke.

Knowing the Drug interactions
While you chew a pill you may not know how it reacts with your body and other drugs. Certain drug interactions affect the body and mind adversely. So avoid risking it.

If you are diabetic
People who are diabetic and have a high blood pressure should be cautious while self-medicating. Avoid taking medicines without a proper professional advice as your self-medication may cause uncontrolled hyper tension and diabetes.

What if you are pregnant?
If you are pregnant, self-medication is a big no-no. Self medication could affect the unborn child and there are dangers that the child may develop some birth defects.

Intake of Vitamin Tablets
Some people take vitamin tablets without doctor's prescription and this could lead to toxicity. So never think vitamin tablets are always healthy. A balanced diet eliminates the need for multi-vitamin tablets.

Food for thought
Health care had been one of the most dominant paradigms throughout the history of mankind. Non-Prescription medicines are labels of self care and it also brings with it severe dangers. Improper use of medicines can cause complications and in some cases cost lives. There is one thing, which should remain in every one's minds and that is "You are responsible for your health".

Story first published: Thursday, September 26, 2013, 18:50 [IST]
Read more about: wellness health