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Improper use of medicine is not only money wasting, but it could also result in delay in treatment of diseases. It could also lead to poisoning if overdosed. Therefore, please observe the followings for safe use of medicine:
Follow your doctor’s instructions
1. Take the exact amount of medicine according to your doctor's instruction as poisoning may result from an overdose and ineffective treatment resulted from inadequate dose.
2. If you’re taking antibiotics, you must complete a treatment course in order to cure the disease. If you don't complete the course, for example, you stop taking the drug once symptoms have disappeared, germs in your body may develop resistance towards the antibiotics subsequently.
3. Persevere with your treatment. Some medication has to be taken for a certain period before its effects become apparent.
4. In cases of chronic illnesses such as diabetes and high blood pressure, it is very important to follow your doctor’s instructions, the medicine as prescribed and have regular follow-ups. You must never change your dosage or stop taking your medicine without your doctor’s instructions. Otherwise, the consequences could be serious.
5. If you miss one dose of your medication, don’t make it up with an extra dose next time around. This could lead to overdose and poisoning may result.
Don’t try to be your own doctor
1. When you’re ill, the best way is to consult your doctor. However, if you purchase over-the-counter medication, be sure to read the labels and instructions carefully. You should keep in mind that some people may have reactions to certain medicine, for example, antibiotics like penicillin.
2. Don’t take other people's medicine. Similar symptoms do not always mean the same disease. It’s very dangerous to use other people's medicine, or medicine that was leftover from a previous illness.
Store your medicine securely
1. Always keep medication in a designated cabinet with a lock.
2. Don’t store medicine in food bottles. You should keep medicine out of reach of the children.
3. Medicines in general should be kept in a cool and dry place, but some of them, such as insulin products and some liquid antibiotics, should be kept in the refrigerator but not in the freezer.
4. Check expiry dates of medicines and discard expired or spoiled medicines.
5. Never put medicine in containers that are designated for other medicine. Never put different kinds of drugs in one bottle.
Take note of the following whenever you take medicine:
1. Make sure that you know how to take the medicine. For instance, note whether you should swallow it, put it under your tongue, chew it, inhale it, apply it externally, or insert it as a suppository. It’s important to apply the medication correctly.
2. Read the medicine’s label and instructions carefully. Take note of the dosage, ingredients, indications, warnings, and side effects, in order to avoid undesirable results. For example, some medicines become poisonous if combined with alcohol.
3. Don’t take medicines in the dark in order to avoid a mistake.
4. Don’t take more than one kind of medication at a time unless under a doctor’s instructions. Otherwise you may experience harmful drug interaction.
5. If you develop a rash, stomachache, headache, or other reactions after taken medication, stop taking it immediately and consult your doctor.
6. When giving medicine to children, don’t refer to it as 'candy'.
7. Children should be supervised when taking any medicine, with extra care taken when using medicines that come in the form of soft gel capsules. Parents and caregivers should follow the instructions for use for all medicines given to children.
8. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should not use or take medicines unless instructed by a doctor, as some medicines may pass into the placenta or breast milk and pose adverse impacts to the foetus or the infant.
9. Seek medical advice as soon as possible if you experience any serious side effects suspected to be related to your drugs.
10. Most orally taken medications such as tablets should be swallowed whole with water. Tablet should not be broken into pieces or crushed before taking unless as directed by doctor or healthcare professionals such as pharmacist have been consulted.
(June 2017)
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