Notes from pharmacists for effective and safe use of medication

(Dan Tri) - From recorded reality, experts pointed out many common mistakes in self-medication and made recommendations to help the community form safer and more scientific drug-using habits.

Pharmacist - Gatekeeper of public health

Not simply drug sellers, today's pharmacists have become "gatekeepers of public health", at the forefront of detecting early signs of disease, providing guidance on safe drug use and spreading medical knowledge to the people.

That was the outstanding message shared at the discussion "Pharmacists - Gatekeepers of public health" organized by Dan Tri newspaper in collaboration with Pharmacity.

The seminar "Pharmacists - Gatekeepers of public health" was organized by Dan Tri newspaper in collaboration with Pharmacity (Photo: Manh Quan).

According to Pharmacist Nguyen Van Tien Duc, Pharmacy Director, Pharmacity System, society's awareness of the role of pharmacists has changed dramatically. If in the past people went to pharmacies just to "buy medicine", now they come to "get advice", from how to use medicine, diet to regular health monitoring.

“A pharmacist not only provides medicine but is also the closest doctor to the people. They come into contact with hundreds of customers every day, witnessing many different health stories, thereby contributing to early detection of disease risks and helping people prevent them,” Pharmacist Duc shared.

In fact, many large pharmacy chains such as Pharmacity have implemented a "community pharmacy" model, where people can have their blood pressure and blood sugar measured, receive medication advice, and receive health monitoring instructions completely free of charge.

This is not only a professional activity but also a way to help pharmacists improve their communication, listening and humane behavior skills in patient care.

Common mistakes when taking medicine by Vietnamese people

From the reality recorded at the Pharmacity pharmacy system, Pharmacist Nguyen Van Tien Duc said that there are 6 groups of common mistakes when people use drugs on their own. These mistakes not only directly affect the effectiveness of treatment but also cause many potential complications for long-term health.

Pharmacist Nguyen Van Tien Duc said there are 6 common mistakes people make when using medicine on their own (Photo: Manh Quan).

Self-prescription and inappropriate drug combinations

According to Pharmacist Duc, this is the most common mistake. People often rely on personal experience or online research to choose drugs. Using many drugs in the same group or interacting with each other at the same time can easily lead to overdose, side effects, or reduced treatment effectiveness.

A typical example is the case of a patient buying antibiotics to treat the common cold, while most colds are caused by viruses and do not require antibiotics. “Using antibiotics in this case not only does not help cure the disease, but also increases the risk of drug resistance,” Pharmacist Duc analyzed.

At pharmacies in the Pharmacity system, the team of pharmacists is well trained in identifying prescription drugs and the process of refusing to sell when customers do not have a doctor's prescription.

“We do not just stop at refusing, but must clearly explain the reasons and provide correct information so that people understand why they should not use it,” said Pharmacist Duc.

2. Stopping the medication early or not using the full course of treatment

The second most common mistake is stopping medication when you feel better. This is especially dangerous for chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes or treatment for infections, German pharmacists say.

According to this expert, many people have the habit of prescribing medicine for themselves (Photo: Manh Quan).

“Patients often think that when the symptoms disappear, the disease is cured, but in fact the pathogen is still there. Stopping the medication early causes the disease to relapse and become more severe.

Some recorded cases show that diabetic patients arbitrarily reduce the dose or stop taking medication when their blood sugar is stable, leading to cardiovascular complications. The role of pharmacists in this case is to monitor, remind and help patients maintain the correct treatment regimen," the expert added.

3. Reusing old prescriptions or someone else's prescription

Many people have the habit of keeping old prescriptions to “reuse when needed”, or borrowing prescriptions from relatives. According to Pharmacist Duc, this is a potentially risky behavior, because each person has a different constitution and underlying medical conditions.

Pharmacity pharmacy system has implemented a process of storing customer information in electronic records (Photo: Pharmacity).

“Even if the symptoms are similar, the cause may be completely different. Reusing an old prescription may lead to incorrect diagnosis or cause interactions with other medications you are taking,” said Pharmacist Duc.

From the actual operation, Pharmacity pharmacy system has implemented the process of storing customer information in electronic records, helping pharmacists to track drug purchase history and warn of interaction risks if patients use many different products. This is an important step to ensure safe and personalized drug use for each patient.

4. Abuse of painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids

According to records, the group of painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs is one of the most abused types.

“Patients often tend to use it long-term to reduce symptoms, without knowing that some drugs can damage the liver, kidneys or stomach if used uncontrolled,” said Pharmacist Duc.

According to records, painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs are among the most abused (Illustration: Getty).

He also noted the situation of people using drugs containing corticosteroids to treat inflammation, allergies or reduce acne without monitoring.

“Corticoids are a double-edged sword. Short-term use can be effective, but long-term use can cause adrenal insufficiency, high blood pressure, osteoporosis and metabolic disorders,” the expert pointed out.

To limit this risk, community pharmacies are instructed to carefully check the drug ingredients when customers request them, and suggest safer options if possible. Pharmacity currently applies an automatic lookup system to warn of drug groups containing high-risk active ingredients to support pharmacists in consulting.

5. Ignoring instructions and post-treatment follow-up visits

Not only making mistakes when buying medicine, many people are also subjective after treatment, do not return for check-ups or do not follow the prescribed medication regimen.

“There are people who take blood pressure and diabetes medication for many years without getting checked. When pharmacists discover this, they must tactfully remind them and refer them to a specialist,” said pharmacist Duc.

Some pharmacies in the Pharmacity system have implemented a “post-purchase follow-up” model via automatic text messages or direct consultation, helping people remember the time for re-examination and re-medication. This measure not only helps patients maintain proper treatment but also reduces pressure on medical facilities.

6. Lack of knowledge about drug-food interactions and lifestyle habits

One factor that is often overlooked is the interaction between drugs and food. German pharmacists say that there are drugs that, when taken with milk, orange juice or green tea, will reduce the absorption of the active ingredient.

“For example, tetracycline antibiotics, if taken with milk, will form complexes with calcium and reduce their effectiveness. Or blood pressure medication, if taken with alcohol, can cause a sudden drop in blood pressure,” this expert analyzed.

Therefore, nutritional counseling, medication timing and accompanying lifestyle are important contents in the operation of modern pharmacies.

Notes for safe use of drugs

From practical experience in consulting and training pharmacists at the Pharmacity pharmacy system, Pharmacist Nguyen Van Tien Duc believes that raising public awareness about proper drug use needs to start with three factors: knowledge, attitude and cooperation between people and pharmacists.

According to Pharmacist Duc, today's pharmacy pharmacists have become "gatekeepers of public health" (Photo: Manh Quan).

According to him, most mistakes in drug use come from subjective psychology and lack of accurate information.

German pharmacists recommend that when experiencing unusual symptoms, people should consult a pharmacist or doctor before buying medicine.

Pharmacists at reputable pharmacies today are all well-trained in clinical pharmacy, have the ability to identify drug interactions, and advise on appropriate usage for each patient.

Asking questions and talking directly with pharmacists helps patients better understand the causes, uses and potential risks of each drug.

From a community perspective, he believes that pharmacies need to promote their role as people's first point of medical contact.

“Many people are reluctant to go to the doctor, but are willing to go to the pharmacy. If each pharmacist spends a few more minutes to consult, ask about medical history and give clear instructions, that would be a very effective disease prevention action,” said pharmacist Duc.

In recent years, Pharmacity has implemented the “community pharmacy” model, expanding the role of the pharmacy from a point of sale to a basic health consultation point.

Here, people can have their blood pressure and blood sugar measured, receive medication advice, receive nutritional guidance, and have their electronic records kept.

“Thanks to that, we can warn of the risk of drug interactions, monitor each customer's medication use and remind them to return for a check-up or make adjustments when necessary,” said Pharmacist Duc.

This model not only benefits patients but also helps reduce the burden on the upper-level healthcare system, especially in chronic diseases that require long-term monitoring.

“A pharmacist at the pharmacy counter, if properly trained, can help detect many health problems, from high blood pressure to diabetes, before they turn into serious illnesses,” he added.

Photo: Manh Quan

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/suc-khoe/luu-y-tu-duoc-si-de-dung-thuoc-hieu-qua-va-an-toan-20251104194456320.htm