LAGOS – Mrs Gloria Ukwuoma, Head of Pharmacy Department, Federal Medical Centre, Ebute Meta, Lagos State, has advised Nigerians not to abuse self-medication in a bid to take care of their health.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″]
Ukwuoma gave the in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos.
She said that though patients were allowed to take certain drugs in form of first aid before proper medical attention, abuse of such drugs could be dangerous.
This explains why manufacturers of such drugs usually warn that “if symptoms persist after two days, consult your doctor”, she said
Ukwuoma said that such advice should be seriously adhered to by patients.
She said that there were two types of drug prescription — Over the Counter (OTC) drugs and those prescribed by medical doctors.
“The OTC drugs are those ones used to treat common ailments such as headaches and others, while the prescribed drugs are the ones that can only be dispensed by certified pharmacists.
“The drugs in this category are those recommended for patients suffering from asthma, diabetics and others’’ the pharmacist said.
Ukwuoma , however, cautioned on how patients get their prescribed drugs and treatment, especially injections.
She warned that in case of emergency, patients should make use of certified private hospitals for their treatment.
“Only pharmacists should counter sign prescription sheets of patients on recommended drugs after they must have dispensed them,’’ she said.
On counterfeit drugs, she warned patients to stop patronising quacks, noting that the government was taking measures to regulate and sanction erring drug peddlers.
“People should exercise restraint in patronising them.
“Patients should know that their lives are important and should take care of them’’ Ukwuoma said. (NAN)