Tema-Ghana, Oct. 11, CDA Consult – The patient’s premature discontinuation of medicine is risky, Pharm Nana Oye Edmund, Inpatient Pharmacy Supervisor at the International Maritime Hospital (IMaH) in Tema, has revealed and encouraged patients to finish medications recommended by their doctors in order to maintain good health.
Pharm Edmund issued the warning during the weekly “Your Health! Our Collective Responsibility!” discussion. An effort of the GNA Tema Regional Office aiming at fostering health-related communication and creating a platform for the dissemination of health information in order to influence personal health decisions through increased health literacy.
Pharm Edmund, speaking on the topic “Poly Pharmacy and the Safe Use of Medicine in Society,” stated that quitting treatment too soon may allow the sickness to return stronger, and illness-causing bacteria may multiply even if symptoms go.
“So an example is when a patient is prescribed some antibiotics. If you stop the treatment before the antibiotic cycle is over, the remaining bacteria become resistant to the antibiotics; they can potentially do even more harm, and your physician may have to prescribe more medication,” she said.
She explained that completing the full course of medicines ensures the eradication of infections and helps treat various conditions completely.
Dr. Marc Kwame Dzradosi, the Head of Pharmaceutical Services at IMaH, also reiterated the importance of patients completing prescribed courses of drug syrups like blood tonics when dealing with anaemia treatment, which typically requires consistent adherence to medication.
Adding to that, it is crucial to follow up with healthcare providers to monitor progress and ensure treatment is working effectively and conditions are returning to normal.
He went on to say that in order to avoid drug interactions, it’s crucial to inform medical professionals about all current prescriptions used in order to avoid taking duplicates. He also stressed the importance of being cautious while mixing drugs.
He urged everyone to heed medical advice and to ask chemists questions when they are prescribed medication, but he also discouraged sharing outdated or unneeded medications with other people.
Pharm Sandra Araba Mensah, IMaH Deputy Head of Pharmacy, stressed in her speech on Poly Pharmacy that using a single medication carries risks, such as the potential for an allergic reaction, a negative reaction to food or drink, unpleasant side effects, or a prescription that doesn’t function as intended.
It also provides benefits such as managing conditions, treating infections, and relieving pain.
According to the IMaH Deputy Head of Pharmacy, it’s crucial to use caution when taking one or more medications, especially if the quantity increases as with polypharmacy.
The largest risk associated with polypharmacy, according to her, is the possibility of adverse drug events getting worse.
Pharm Mensah claims that polypharmacy is associated with more challenging problems with medication adherence.
“This is not all that surprising considering that increasing the number of medications naturally creates more management challenges for patients, thus increasing the likelihood of medication nonadherence,” she stated.
