It is common in our society for people without medical knowledge to take medications on their own initiative or to recommend them to friends or relatives, just from experience, without being aware of the consequences they can cause. Self-medication is a deeply rooted custom that is continuously growing in some societies, sometimes displacing medical consultation, mentions the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). On this occasion, Dr. Julio Cachay, specialist in internal medicine at Clinica Ricardo Palma will give us more information on this topic.

Self-medication carries the following risks:

• Disguise diseases. When drugs are taken without a prescription when feeling pain or discomfort, the true diagnosis of a disease could be hidden or delayed, losing valuable time for the patient’s treatment or recovery.
• There are drugs that can cause dependence without the person realizing it, such as cough suppressants (those used to reduce coughing) that contain codeine. Therefore, it is extremely important to consult a doctor first and not be carried away by someone else’s recommendations.
• Side effects. All medicines, even those over the counter, can generate side effects, causing adverse reactions on various occasions that can become more uncomfortable than the symptoms of the condition (allergies, poisoning, among others).
• Serious condition. When antibiotics are taken without control, bacterial resistance can be generated. Microorganisms, when constantly exposed to the drug, mutate and develop defense mechanisms. This causes the loss of its efficacy and the use of more powerful antibiotics is necessary.
• Lack of effectiveness. The choice of drug consumption must be under clinical criteria. Well, the person can confuse the symptoms with a condition that they do not have and consume medications that they should not, such as taking antibiotics to treat viral processes.
• Organ damage. It is very important to take the right dose of medication, as a low dose may not work, while a high dose can have serious consequences, especially if you suffer from chronic diseases.

Do not take medicine lightly; the remedy may be worse than the disease.

Dr. Julio Cachay
Specialist in Internal Medicine at Clínica Ricardo Palma