The Adventures of the Little Indian Girl

Marrying a pharmacist (he doesn't practice but that's his background) and meeting many of his pharmacist friends has taught me several things about the world of pills. N deals a lot of misuse of pills during his work in Africa. He sees a lot of counterfeit medicine that are prescribed by people who don't even have a background in pharmacy. This is a problem even in India. I can get my prescription medicine without a prescription when I head to India for that matter. And on occasion I do. It saves the cost of the doctor and is cheaper to do so.

But the problems are different in developed nations. And yes, there are problems as well. It's better regulated etc. But the problem is different. The problem is often with self-medication. And often self-medication over trivial symptoms. A little headache, reach for the Tylenol or advil. A bit of cold, take some sudafed or whatever you think fits your symptoms. My husband looks at the dosage in some of these over the counter medicines and the severity of the "patients" ailments and wonders over the long-term effects. None of us take the time to really read all that fine print in the medicine packet. I only started after getting married!

I have had very good doctors and one thing they have always taught me is to find the root of the problem and treat that, instead of treating the symptoms. Unless of course the symptoms were so severe that they need immediate attention first. Whenever I would go to doc because of a flu, I would get a lecture. A flu is often the sign of weak immune system. It's possibly because the body's overworked, not enough exercise, not well fed, under lot of psychological stress, etc. If you get a fever, it's a good sign that your immune system is working. He wouldn't prescribe anything unless the fever got too high. His prescription was always to sleep it off; body needs rest. It's telling you in the most aggressive way it can, since you didn't listen to earlier more gentle reminders.

I generally agreed, and listened. But guess there were times I just couldn't take that needed time off, etc. and just treated the symptoms and moved on. Many of us do this.

Recently when Vi and I were waiting for N's arrival at the US Mint, we overheard a group who probably spent the day out and about, going from one museum to another under the hot summer sun. One of them (we guessed the mother) had a headache. So, she popped a Tylenol. Her sister/friend/sister-in-law also replied that she might be coming down with a headache and popped a Tylenol. And she asked the husband/brother/friend if he needed one to. Vi who is also a pharmacologist went mad. Okay. he didn't go tell them. But he was so afraid for them. He was so frustrated that they were treating a medicine like M&Ms. Their body was telling them that they spent too much time under the sun. It's a symptom of potential heatstroke. Treat that.

Yesterday evening I hung out with friends at their place. They invited another couple over to join us. As we were swimming, we talked about allergies. I shared with them the many different treatments I went through. She asked me if I took claritin. I said at that time, that saved my life! Of course, at that time, one couldn't get it over the counter. Now you can. She determines that she gets a bit of a cough and could be allergic. So, she self-prescribed herself claritin. I shared that I am no longer on claritin but on a nasal spray as that is more effective for me. I recommended her to go check with a doc first. A chronic cough can be a symptom for many other things. She agreed, but ended with saying "maybe I will take a zyrtec." It just baffles me. The friend I was visiting is a practicing pharmacist. He also recommended her to go see a doc. And shared the bad consequences of taking medicines you think is right and some adverse effects of the pills. Her response, "pharmaceuticals continue to poison us."

I was just dumbstruck. They are not poisoning us. You are poisoning yourself. Take responsibility for what you take in. Educate yourself. Go see a doctor (of course, and hope he/she is a good one and is not just promoting the newest drug on the block). I am glad that I have access to allergy medicines over-the-counter. I know and have been taught well by my doc for what works and what doesn't. And when to go see one. I know when it's necessary to take even the over-the-counter medicines. I thank my doctor in Malaysia for that!