Using drugs of unknown origin due to advertising news
Thin skin, joint pain and swollen face are symptoms Ms. Nguyen Thi Vuong (name changed, 65 years old, Ca Mau) encountered after using a medicine introduced by a neighbor.
Ms. Vuong often had joint pain and had high blood pressure for many years. Hearing neighbors introduce a type of traditional medicine, believing that taking it would improve her health quickly, she decided to use it. After 3 consecutive years of using the medicine, she had to be hospitalized with abnormal symptoms.
I brought the medicine I was taking to see the doctor. The doctor also asked where to buy it. I always asked my neighbor to buy it, so I don't know the origin clearly," Ms. Vuong shared.
Similarly, patient T.K. (72 years old, Ho Chi Minh City) had been treated for diabetes for a long time but decided to use a traditional medicine after hearing advertisements that it could cure the disease. After about 8 months of continuous use, the patient had to be hospitalized with symptoms suspected of corticoid infection.
In the early days, I found it was also healthy, so I thought it was suitable for the medicine and continued to use it. Until the day I went for a general health check-up in the ward, the doctor measured my blood sugar and found that I had many signs of suspected corticoid infection, so he advised me to go for an examination," patient K. said.
You shouldn't hide it from the doctor because you are afraid of being blamed
According to Associate Professor - Doctor - Doctor Nguyen Thi Bay, Chairwoman of the Science - Training Council, Faculty of Traditional Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Ho Chi Minh City, people should not seek out products with unknown ingredients because of concerns about the side effects of prescription drugs. For drugs prescribed by doctors, the ingredients, dosage, indications and monitoring methods are all determined. Meanwhile, floating drugs can also pose a potential risk of uncontrollable toxicity.
People need to be wary of advertisements such as "healing all diseases", "healing in a few days", "no need for tests", "no need to go to the hospital", "no side effects" or "everyone can use it". According to doctors, there is no medicine that is suitable for everyone or can treat a series of different diseases.
Products without labels, ingredients, manufacturers, batch numbers, expiration dates, use methods and clear storage conditions should also not be used.
For drugs prescribed or prescribed at traditional medicine facilities, patients need to clearly know the examiner, prescriber, main ingredients, dosage, duration of use and re-examination schedule.
Dr. Nguyen Thi Bay recommends that the elderly should make a list of all products they are using, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, traditional medicines, medicinal herbs and health protection foods. When going for examination, they should bring the list along with the box, packaging or remaining medicine samples for doctors to evaluate.
You should not hide it from the doctor because you are afraid of being blamed. What the doctor needs to know is what substance the patient has used to have a safe treatment direction, not to criticize their choice," the doctor said.
Families also need to pay attention to the elderly, because this group easily trusts acquaintances or introducers. Children and grandchildren should not only request to stop using but also need to explain the risk, check the origin of the product and take the patient to a medical facility when abnormal signs appear.
According to doctors, if after using drugs of unknown origin, the patient develops rapid weight gain, round face, leg edema, increased blood sugar or blood pressure, it is necessary to consider the possibility that the product contains undisclosed active ingredients, which may include corticosteroids.
Patients should bring medicine or products they have used to a medical facility for evaluation. Depending on the condition, the doctor may prescribe blood sugar, liver function, kidney function, electrolytes or adrenal function.
It is necessary to see a doctor early when facial edema, leg edema gradually increases, urination is reduced, fatigue is high, jaundice, prolonged abdominal pain or blood sugar and blood pressure are difficult to control. If there is shortness of breath, lethargy, fainting, convulsions, vomiting blood, black stools, continuous vomiting or signs of low blood pressure, go to the hospital immediately.
