HOW A VERY EFFECTIVE PAINKILLER COST A WOMAN HER LONG-SOUGHT PREGNANCY (A TALE OF THE EVILS OF SELF MEDICATION)

[BASED ON A TRUE LIFE STORY]
Engr. Smart was reported to have had a waist pain and headed straight to a nearby chemist to purchase a particular brand of a painkiller which contained DICLOFENAC and MISOPROSTOL. 

It gave him the desired analgesic effect he wanted and he kept the remaining at home at a place out of reach of his little daughters. Some weeks later, his wife had a similar pain and opted for the same drug knowing how speedily her husband had felt relief when he used the drug. She had been feeling drowsy of late and so as was her usual routine during the course of the day, she put on the television and after some minutes, she was asleep. A few hours later, there was confusion; she was having cramps and after a while bleeding commenced. The Driver managed to rush her to the family Doctor who later confirmed that she had lost her pregnancy. Sadly enough, the couple had been trying for a baby since 6 years ago when their last and third daughter was born. When she was asked about the possible causes of her “abortion” she couldn’t really predict the exact cause but informed the doctor passively that she had eaten and taken the said pain killer earlier that day to treat a waist pain. That’s possibly it, said the Doctor. That drug is an effective analgesic but is contraindicated (not to be taken) in pregnancy, he added. 

Often times, drug users having been patient with the doctor during the diagnosis of their ailments suddenly lose their cool and become inpatient when purchasing or collecting their medications from the pharmacy. This is usually a sad occurrence as most patients who give deaf ears to the counseling of a patient end up experiencing some adverse effects of drug misuse. Drugs are meant to be dispensed by pharmacists alongside a patient-specific counseling. The beneficiary of this counseling is the patient or the drug user and neglecting such counsel often means a plan to misuse the drug, a practice which can have really devastating consequences as seen in the story above.

LESSONS TO LEARN:

1. A drug which works for a close friend or partner must not necessarily be suitable for another even if the ailments present with the same symptoms.
2. No matter how safe you feel the drug is, always seek the counsel of a Doctor or Pharmacist before using medicines.
3. Always disclose your health status or likely health status (like in the event of a woman trying to get pregnant)
4. Always ask the Pharmacist from whom you purchase your drugs about necessary information relevant to the use of the drug you purchased especially if there are conditions where such drugs must not be used.