Self-medication: The risk of emergency

Seeking treatment yourself and without advice from a doctor is a practice that has become common in our societies.. At the first headache, There are many people who, without advice from a specialist, go to a pharmacy in order to find a product that can quickly alleviate the pain, thus ignoring the consequences..

Self-medication, this practice of using medications without a medical prescription by people feeling unwell is now commonplace.. It is enough for an individual to feel a headache, pain or even fatigue to see him heading to a pharmacy without a medical prescription in order to find a remedy and calm his illness.

This practice, which is not without consequences, seems to be the preference for those who indulge in it.. Because according to these, financial income is not conducive to being able to meet a doctor for a consultation. This is what Yves O says., an entrepreneur “Today for the Beninese, it is difficult, or even impossible to hire a personal doctor to control your medication intake. Economic power being so weak, only those who have the means or support can do it. Health centers could do the trick, but for a middle-class citizen who comes home in the evening and feels aching, going directly to the pharmacy is easier for him than going first to a health specialist who will certainly prescribe a prescription beyond the latter's budget”, he explains. He still recognizes the dangers linked to the practice but thinks that “if there were means there were, those who self-medicate will respect the health rules which prohibit this”.

“I know what to take when I have a fever and when to take it, I feel better. It's the same for other discomforts. For my children, I go to the health center first like them. Because they are fragile beings”, says Nestor a carpenter. He adds that “there are illnesses for which we go to health centers or hospitals., but for minor discomforts, we take the usual medications”.

Beatrice O. is a nurse, the observation made is proven and according to her, this behavior must be changed “Self-medication is a danger to health. This practice can lead to an overdose. Because we have no idea of ​​the real quantity of medications taken, also the person concerned may not be able to take into account possible allergies and welcome the damage. This can cause other illnesses or aggravate those we want to treat”.

As advice, the nurse reminds that health specialists alone must indicate the medications that should be taken regardless of the ailment. Pharmacists should not be neglected because when it comes to advice on taking medications they are well placed.. Self-medication is not at all recommended over a long period of time and it can have side effects”. It is urgent to bring the message to the population, through awareness campaigns.