Chennai: Antibiotics are miracle drugs for sure, but there are also side effects associated with the indiscriminate use of these drugs that can potentially be life-threatening. This Antibiotic Awareness Week, doctors emphasise the importance to educate people about the use of various antibiotics available. The intake of heavy dose antibiotics that are freely dispensed at the pharmacies without prescriptions from doctors can prove to be poisonous, as regular use of antibiotics makes the body resistant to the drugs.
“Pharmacists have become doctors and people flock to such stores in case of mild fever, cold and cough, and buy antibiotics over the counter. However, these ‘doctors’ do not check the dosage or the course of the drug needed as per the medical condition of the patient, which makes the body drug resistant. In case of these ailments later in life, doctors have to prescribe stronger medication to cure the patient”, said Dr Kapali Neelamekam, senior consultant, gastro and minimal invasive surgery, Fortis Malar Hospital.
Doctors state that the human body itself has a doctor, a hospital and a drug store within as White Blood Corpuscles act as soldiers to keep away bacterial infections, but pumping in of antibiotics by an individual disrupts the inbuilt capability of the WBC to fight back, reducing the immunity of the body.
“Indiscriminate use of antibiotics will render the body with low immunity, making an individual depend on antibiotics, which is more dangerous. Various body organs, including liver and lungs, apart from digestive system, can be harmed due to antibiotic abuse. Organ failure is a common problem due to overuse of antibiotics”, said Dr Kirushna Kumar, consultant gastroenterologist, Meenakshi Mission Hospital.
Dr Kirushna Kumar adds that regular use of antibiotics can also hamper the growth of brain cells, as antibiotics also disturb the balance of body systems due to the chemical reactions as they act on infection—causing microbes. People also use old prescriptions of antibiotics for similar symptoms, even though the actual diagnosis can be ‘dangerously different’.
Antibiotics are believed to be an incredibly valuable tool when facing serious bacterial infections, but the trend has been to overprescribe antibiotics, and that trend is leading to very serious consequences, as overuse of antibiotics can be life-threatening and needs to be controlled.
Internet medication can be dangerous
Self-medication using the Internet has become a common practice of the people and this has led to use of antibiotics, without prescriptions. Regulation of drugs based on its medical value and potential for abuse by enforcing classification of scheduled drugs is not practised. “A large section of general population takes antibiotics for viral fevers, cold and coughs even when these drugs are not required, damaging their digestive system also. There are no regulations on usage of antibiotics and ban on some medicines remains only on paper. Today we can get these drugs at many pharmacies, even without a prescription”, said Dr R. Shanti, member, Doctors' Association for Social Equality.
Beware before you pop in a paracetamol
The increasing abuse of most commonly used antibiotic, paracetamol is
causing concern. People pop in paracetamol tablets just at the thought of ‘feeling feverish’ unaware of the fact that it can even lead to liver damage.
“Paracetamol poisoning, which is the indiscriminate use of paracetamol and paracetamol overdose could cause serious liver damage. In the UK, the most common cause of acute liver failure is paracetamol poisoning. We don’t have as many cases of paracetamol poisoning in India currently, but the practice is not very uncommon. The liver can take a serious hit even for a dose of 2-2.5 grams per day if it is in a borderline condition”, said Dr M. Selva Kumar, consultant, Liver ICU, Apollo Hospitals.
