1. Drug consumption ;
Knowing the unknown
A large number of people are used to consume medicinal drugs. Like consuming food
it has become a habit of life today.
The pharmacies are loaded with packets and bottles containing tablets, capsules and
suspensions of different colours and flavours. The people buy these items producing
prescriptions received from the doctors. The proper use of actual medicinal drugs is a
necessity in curing diseases but currently there is a trend in introducing various tablets,
capsules and suspensions mimicking medicinal drugs.
The drug is defined as, any substance or mixture of substances manufactured, sold,
offered for sale or represented for use in , the diagnosis, treatment, mitigation or
prevention of disease, abnormal physical state or the symptoms thereof in man or animal
and restoring, correcting or modifying organic functions in man or animal. It is further
stated that a single drug or combination of drugs ready for use and placed on the market
under a special name or in a characteristic form, both patent and proprietary preparations,
but does not include an Ayurvedic drug or Aurvedic medicine, a Homeopathic drug or
Homeopathic medicine. This definition comes in the Cosmetics, Devices and Drugs Act,
No.27 of 1980 in Sri Lanka.
Recently, a well known senior journalist called me to get information about a costly drug
which was given to his wife by a doctor. The name of the drug, mentioned was unknown
totally. It was not in any pharmacology text books or recognized publications such as
BNF, British national formulary. As our journalist friend is awaiting the answer, it was
searched in the internet. According to the information in the web , it is a dietary
supplement and a product of soy, which contain a chemical related to the hormone
oestradiol. It was stated that it will relieve menopausal symptoms, maintain bone health
and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease of post menopausal women.
At last with great difficulties, a study report was found related to this pill. It says that , in
post menopausal women, there were no statistically significant effects of soy or those
products on circulating total oestradiol , although there was a small non significant
increase in total circulating oestradiol following consumption of them. It was further
stated that this chemical with a similarity to oestradiol will not be able to bind to the
oestradiol receptors in the body as with the hormone oestradiol. Therefore the
2. concentration of this in blood circulation will be increased gradually over the time. This
effect may be associated with an increased risk of breast cancer in post menopausal
women.
This is an example for the current trend in prescribing and selling drugs, nowadays.
There are several types of those pills and suspensions in hundreds. It says that, it
supports healthy circulation, promotes cardiovascular health, helps in maintaining blood
pressure, cholesterol levels , healthy weight and balanced metabolism and many more.
Most of these preparations are introduced as natural to make false assumption of safety
among the public.
There are myths prevailing in the society for long period, in promoting this haphazard
usage of drugs continually. Some people think that the receiving prescription must be
with large number and amount of drugs to identify a good doctor. Furthermore their
satisfaction goes up with increasing expenses in taking medicines. This is a time to exit
from these false assumptions to avoid probable risks in future.
The short prescriptions have been converted to long prescriptions to attract the people
who are entangling in those myths. The pharmacy owners are giving their explanation on
selling these preparation when inquired. They are not unfamiliar about the differences
of known and unknown drugs. According to them, they will miss their customers if they
do not store these unknown preparations, which are prescribed by some doctors.
This has become a vicious cycle today. Therefore it is necessary to take relevant actions
through , cosmetics, devices and drugs act , implemented thirty years back. This act
describe itself, as an act to regulate and control the manufacture, importation, sale and
distribution of cosmetics, devices and drugs , to establish a cosmetics, devices and drugs
technical advisory committee and provide for matters connected therewith or incidental
thereto.
The medicinal tablets, capsules or suspensions may not be essential in curing all diseases.
The correct advise is sufficient in curing many diseases. The drugs or advise and drug
combination may be needed in other instances. The people should have at least a fair
knowledge on these facts for correct use of drugs and correct selection of medical
healers. The doctors who give advise or prescribe few drugs in curing disease, should not
be disregarded. It must be emphasized that the probability in appearing unsuitable pills
or suspensions is more in a long prescription compared to short one that they received.
It is a responsibility of the cosmetics, devices and drugs technical advisory committee to
look into this matter at least to minimize the future risk, without delay. The people should
inquire and have a basic knowledge about the drugs, that they are receiving. It is a duty
of the medical profession to brief the patients on type of drugs, written in the
prescription. However it is valuable in gaining proper knowledge and rejecting the myths
and false assumptions as it allow the people to protect themselves.
