According to pharmacist Dinh Thanh Trung - Deputy Head of Pharmacy Department, Kien Giang General Hospital, drugs play a very important role in treating patients as well as preventing, curing and improving human health. As a special commodity, drugs need to be strictly controlled from the research, production, circulation stages until they are licensed for use. In Vietnam, all activities related to drugs are strictly monitored by the Drug Administration of Vietnam (Ministry of Health). However, in the context of an increasingly diverse market with thousands of types of drugs and functional foods, the rational and safe use of drugs is a big challenge.
Dispensing medicine to patients at Chau Thanh Medical Center. Photo: HOP KIM
Each person only uses medicine when sick and has a doctor's prescription; choose medicine suitable for clinical symptoms; use the right dosage, at the right time, ensuring high efficiency and low cost. For example, only people with bacterial infections need to use antibiotics; only people with high blood pressure should use antihypertensive drugs; when fever symptoms disappear, antipyretic drugs such as Paracetamol can be stopped. With drugs to treat the cause of the disease, it is necessary to strictly follow the regimen prescribed by the Ministry of Health .
Taking medication at the right time will increase the effectiveness of treatment. Each type of medication has a different time of use to achieve optimal effectiveness. Some medications must be taken before meals, some after meals or during meals, some in the morning or before bedtime. Pregnant women, breastfeeding women, children, the elderly or people with underlying medical conditions should consult a doctor carefully before taking medication to avoid unwanted side effects.
The role of doctors and pharmacists in ensuring drug safety is very important. When prescribing, doctors need to carefully consider the ingredients, uses, side effects and risks of interactions between drugs. When dispensing, pharmacists must compare the diagnosis, dosage, route of administration and instruct patients on how to use as well as possible side effects. Patients need to understand the dosage, duration of use of the drug and how to handle if there is an unusual reaction. After the treatment period, a follow-up visit helps doctors evaluate the effectiveness and adjust the drug promptly.
Currently, many people still have the habit of buying and using drugs on their own, following the advice of acquaintances or online advertisements without a doctor's examination or guidance. This poses many risks such as using the wrong drug, wrong dosage, causing poisoning or making the disease worse. Antibiotic abuse is becoming a serious problem globally. When bacteria become resistant to drugs, new drugs have not yet been developed, making treatment difficult, expensive and less effective.
To use medicine safely, effectively and economically, people need to use medicine as prescribed by their doctor. Do not buy, share or stop taking medicine on your own. If you have any allergies or unusual reactions while using the medicine, you need to inform the medical staff; store the medicine properly; and return for a check-up on time to be instructed to continue or stop taking the medicine.
Pharmacist Dinh Thanh Trung emphasized: “Medicine is a double-edged sword. Used correctly, medicine can save lives; used incorrectly, it can harm the user’s health.” In the context of drugs and functional foods flooding the market, each person needs to raise awareness, proactively seek out official information and follow the instructions of doctors and pharmacists. Only by using medicine properly can we protect our own health and that of our families and contribute to building a safe community with regard to pharmaceuticals.
NHAT MINH
(An Giang Center for Disease Control)
Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/uong-thuoc-phai-dung-chi-dinh-cua-bac-si-a467586.html
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