Drug Information Q&A Q20. Can I give medicines for my own use to others?
Answer
Drugs given at the hospital are prescribed after examination and diagnosis of the patient, taking into consideration the patient's individual symptoms, constitution, physical strength, age, etc. Therefore, they are not suitable for everyone. There is no guarantee that just because something works for you, it will also work for others.
Explanation
"I have a bit of a cold, did you find any medicine for it? "I have some medicine left over from the hospital. "
Have you ever had such a conversation? They may be casually giving or receiving the same medicine, thinking that since they have similar illnesses, they should be fine with the same medicine. However, this is not the case.
Prescribed drugs are very limited in terms of who can use them and when they can be used, so they cannot be used effectively for everyone. In particular, some people are hypersensitive to antibiotics and anti-inflammatory analgesics and antipyretics, so there is no telling what accidents may occur. Therefore, you should not use medicines prescribed by a physician for others.
Also, do not reuse medicines that have been previously prescribed and stored away. Depending on the storage environment, the ingredients of drugs that have been stored for a number of years may change, and they may not be as effective as they should be. Although it may seem wasteful, please do not use them.
It is also absolutely prohibited to give human intestinal medicines, anti-diarrhea medicines, or cold medicines to pets such as dogs and cats. The main reason for this is that there is a big difference between humans and other animals in terms of their ability to take drugs into their bodies and detoxify them.
In general, drugs act and cease to work faster in animals other than humans. This is because they have a higher ability to absorb and excrete drugs than humans. In addition, some types of drugs are effective for humans but not for small animals such as rodents.
In addition, dogs and cats are smaller than humans, and it is difficult to judge how much is enough for them.
Chart/Column
20｜Main Characteristics of Ethical Drugs
-
These drugs are prescribed according to the symptoms of the patient after the doctor has examined the patient.
-
The type and amount of the drug is adjusted in consideration of the patient's constitution, physical strength, and age. They may be dangerous if used by someone other than the patient himself/herself. Please be careful.
Recommended contents
-
Let's have fun learning about basic knowledge of drugs and how to use them correctly with Capsule-kun!
-
Information for patients and their families on health conditions and provision of medical care.
-
As people get older, the number of medicines they take increases, causing side effects and making it difficult for them to take their medicines properly.
