Pharmacists aren’t doctors: dangers of over-the-counter treatment

Dubai: Got a cough or a stomach ache? Ask your nearest pharmacist for advice. Such over-the-counter treatment has become increasingly common, Gulf News has learnt.

However, the practice of seeking advice from a pharmacist could put patients in danger, warn doctors. In an attempt to cut down on costs — and in some cases, time — residents head out to the pharmacy instead of first consulting a doctor.

Pharmacists are known to regularly dispense medicines for common conditions and minor injuries, including colds, aches and pains, indigestion and skin conditions such as acne and rashes.

Speaking to Gulf News about the trend, doctors said that the practice carries risks and that people with health complications such as diabetes are at higher risk.

The riskiest over-the-counter medications are antibiotics, they said.

Dr Prashant C.K., Specialist Physician at Aster Medical Centre, said: “Among my patients, two in ten seek help from a pharmacist prior to consultation. The risks of the practice include drug resistance and delay in treatment because the symptom is being treated, not the condition.

“Getting treatment like paracetamol [over-the-counter pain reliever and a fever reducer] or antacids for digestion-related problems is acceptable. However, patients should be wary of taking antibiotics without medical consultation. Or taking medication when they have pre-existing health conditions.”

He said most respiratory infections are viral in origin and antibiotics work for only a small percentage of infections.

“I’ve had cases where a pharmacist has dispensed wrong medicines. For symptoms of diarrhoea and vomiting, patients have been given antibiotics and medicine to stop diarrhoea when fluid replacement is needed.

“A person experiencing a burning sensation and pain in his chest could have oesophageal reflux or a more serious heart-related condition. When a pharmacist gives a painkiller, the person is being treated for the symptom, not the condition,” he said.

Fatal

Dr Sanjeeda Akhter, General Practitioner at Cedars – Jebel Ali International Hospital said: “Patients should go to their doctors for a consultation before going straight to a pharmacy. Medication is sometimes given without a complete history and is based on verbalisation with no examination. This can be fatal, especially if the patient has co-morbidity factors such as hypertension, diabetes or kidney conditions.”

She explained that without a complete history and examination, the medication given only addresses the symptom not the cause behind the symptom.

“Symptomatic relief is not a cure. The condition will still be there and may even be aggravated if not acted upon immediately,” she said.

On grounds of anonymity, pharmacists told Gulf News that they help with a range of common conditions. They cited several reasons why residents visit a pharmacy.

“The first and foremost is money. Those who do no have insurance, come to us [pharmacies] for minor health concerns. The second is time. In under 15 minutes, a person can walk out with meds to treat his cold and cough instead of the long wait at a medical centre,” said a pharmacist, who works for a pharmacy chain.

Another pharmacist added: “It has also been the case of keeping things unofficial. For personal reasons, some residents prefer not to keep a medical history.”