The Ugly Side of Self-Medication
There is a popular saying that "Nothing is new under the sun." The truth is that everything we are experiencing has happened before, it might not be exactly the same but if you look closely you will spot the similarities and as the intelligent beings that we are, we tend to take advantage of that reality by mastering it.
Self-medication is something most of us have tried before, it's tempting to want to try those drugs that were once prescribed for you and they worked when you are facing the same challenge.
Everyone is a low key doctor. Some people don't even throw away the names of drugs once prescribed for them but preserve them. Whenever they or someone around them seem to have a similar issue, they quickly go give the same prescription.
The problem with it is sometimes, we might end up consuming the wrong drugs. Because we noticed a similar symptom with what we have experienced before doesn't mean it's the same situation. The drug you prescribed for yourself might lessen the intensity of the pain but the danger is the whole thing will continue to accumulate until it becomes a serious problem.
A lot of people have lost their lives through that kind of carelessness. They kept practicing self-medication until their organs got totally damaged.
I know things are difficult and life is hard but our health ought to be a priority. I don't like taking drugs if not that it becomes a must, my reason is drugs are chemical substances, and they also have their bad sides. I don't know what they are affecting in my body as they are solving the problem I am taking them for. Is it now self-medication that I'll practice? Taking drugs without knowing what's really bothering me and the exact quantity to take?
Our beloved mothers are experts in this thing, they didn't study medicine but they know all the drugs, LOL. A little headache, and they will force paracetamol on you, LOL. I know it saves unnecessary expenses but it's best we go to the clinic and verify what's wrong and if we don't want to get their drugs we can get the list and purchase it ourselves outside. There are different diseases out there with similar symptoms, making a guess about our health is suicide.
My Father was someone who loved drugs a lot. We used to hide drugs in the house because of him. Any drug he sees, he will just take it not minding the consequences. He also loves herbs a lot and knows a few.
He rarely goes to the clinic when he is sick, he just knows how to get his own drugs and most times it's herbs.
One of those days, he started complaining of stomachache and headache. My mom advised him to go for a check but he refused claiming he knew what was wrong with him.
He went and prepared some herbs and took them, the thing went away in the morning and by night it came back. The next day, Mom complained but he still won't listen.
I was in the compound washing my clothes that morning when he screamed from the bathroom and fell down. Fear gripped me when I rushed there and saw him. I quickly informed my mom and we rushed him to the hospital.
He was diagnosed with malaria and typhoid. They gave him Proper treatment and the next day he was alright. Imagine if he had gone to the hospital when it started, the whole thing wouldn't have gotten to that extent. That money you are scared to spend that is making you practice self-medication, you may end up spending double it by the end of the day if you don't do the right thing.
I am not against self-medication, it works for some people but it's not reliable. Drugs are also dangerous, even the little we consume that was properly prescribed has effects on us talk more about taking random drugs without a diagnosis, to me that's very dangerous.
