Thai pharmacists try to prevent drug overuse

[webfact]

MEDICINE MISUSE
Pharmacists try to prevent drug overuse
The Nation

Misuse of potentially dangerous medicines

BANGKOK: -- A network of government pharmacists in two areas of Ayutthaya province has set up a monitoring mechanism to make sure people, especially low-income earners, do not misuse medicines or take them based on a misunderstanding about the drugs.

The network, focusing its campaigns initially in Bang Ban district and Khlong Takhian sub-district, emphasises the education of patients and other people about the hazards of using low-quality or potentially dangerous medicines, which are cheap and widely available.

A senior pharmacist with the provincial consumer-protection office, Santi Chomyong, said the medicines on a watch list are those mixed with steroids, antibiotics and pain-killing substances.

The most vulnerable are long-time users, who are mostly poorer people and those finding it more convenient to purchase over-the-counter items from general stores rather than see a doctor or buy them at pharmacies, he explained.

The network was founded three years ago, and is now extending its work to onsite visits and inspections, Santi said.

The medicines are sold in packs at grocery and mom and pop stores in Khlong Takhian. The packs consist mostly of steroids and antibiotic substances, which are bad for users who consume them over the long term.

Santi told the story of a truck driver, already down to one kidney, who has taken "kidney-nourishing" doses for years and is now going to lose the remaining organ as a result.

Most buyers of these drugs take them at will, and stop once they feel their pain has gone or their symptoms have improved, which is contrary to the medications' conditions for use.

For example, antibiotics must be taken completely for a certain duration, in accordance with a pharmacist's instruction, otherwise drug resistance will develop due to users taking them incorrectly and inconsistently, Santi said.

Apart from much lower prices, regular buyers also prefer convenience, as these stores are easier to visit, while the nearest drug stores with certified pharmacists are in some cases 5 kilometres away, the network has found. There are 10 stores in Khlong Takhian sub-district where these medicines can easily be purchased, he added.

Repetitive over-use of some drugs is another problem detected by the network, especially among people living in frequently flooded Bang Ban district, who take medicines widely available through donations almost year-round, said Santi.

Moreover, many medicines of the same formula have different colours and tablet shapes, or bear different trade names. Although these drugs are generally not efficacious, locals continue to be given them, he said.

The pharmacist also said young people in Bang Ban normally took a paracetamol-based stimulant before going out to fight rival groups.

They also take this drug to keep them awake in order to play games at an Internet cafe, or in the belief that it will prevent pain when their parents or teachers cane them as punishment for misbehaving.

This stimulus drug is also popular with labourers, as a means of giving them extra energy.

Santi said the use of such drugs in cattle or other farm animals would result in them developing drug resistance. One example is the use of antibiotics with fighting cocks.

Such practices would result in these animals developing a greater potential for generating zoonoses, with infectious diseases spreading from species to species, and possibly to humans, he warned.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Pharmacists-try-to-prevent-drug-overuse-30244817.html


-- The Nation 2014-10-06

[Pond Life]

Maybe they should start by educating doctors.

[noitom]

This article is very confusing and doesn't clarify the drugs properly or what they thought they were taking.

[cloudhopper]

This is clearly a national public health issue that is the responsibility of the government to enforce. I applaud this network of pharmacists for doing what they can in their area to remedy this tragic shortfall.

[baboon]

Are these pharmacists the few who don't dispense antibiotics for people with a common cold?

[ChrisY1]

This article is very confusing and doesn't clarify the drugs properly or what they thought they were taking.

They're probably worried about the libel laws by naming certain drugs......

[Prbkk]

well, good luck with this. While there are some very good and professional pharmacists, there are more interested in selling rather than health. Until that contradiction is rectified there will continue to be problems.

[Commerce]

Only last week I had a gout attack. I asked my wife to drive to pharmacy and buy me a pack of colchicine (My wife works in a Faculty of Medicine at a well-known university). What did she come back with? Colchicine AND an expensive (240B) pack of antibiotics, as the pharmacist had recommended those as well.

[BKKdreaming]

I get scared with all the pills that you can get over the counter ,

not many questions on what else you are taking and possible reactions ,

and then all the "extras" sold to make a little more profit ,

Where is a very good and professional pharmacist around lower Sukhumvit ?

[mrtoad]

Only last week I had a gout attack. I asked my wife to drive to pharmacy and buy me a pack of colchicine (My wife works in a Faculty of Medicine at a well-known university). What did she come back with? Colchicine AND an expensive (240B) pack of antibiotics, as the pharmacist had recommended those as well.

Lol, antibiotics for gout? That's too funny.

[BSJ]

Without naming the products in question reading the article is a waste of my time.

[alantheembalmer]

Blimey, Bang Ban district and Khlong Takhian sub-district sound like fun places to live.

[soalbundy]

They aren't all bad. Where i live in a small tow in Isaan we have a pharmacist who is also a doctor but who doesn't practice as one. Many people go to him explaining their symptoms and asking for his advice. When i had bad stomach troubles once ( Street food ) i asked him for antibiotics for my stomach, he recommended cheap charcoal tablets first and for me to come back if they did't work......they worked.

[hyperdimension]

Public factual education about drugs (which these pharmacists are supposedly trying to do) is better than making drugs illegal.

However, they and the public (globally) also need to accept recreational use of drugs. Drugs may not be so harmful if consumed in safe ways (e.g. in moderation with relevant precautions taken) regardless of whether the consumption was for recreational purposes. Look at some of the currently legal recreational drugs for example, including ethanol, caffeine and Sildenafil ("Viagra", "Sidegra", "Kamagra").

Edited October 6, 2014 by hyperdimension

[BMF1960]

I get scared with all the pills that you can get over the counter ,

not many questions on what else you are taking and possible reactions ,

and then all the "extras" sold to make a little more profit ,

Where is a very good and professional pharmacist around lower Sukhumvit ?

Boots seem to have the most reliable pharmacists in my experience.

[hyperdimension]

I get scared with all the pills that you can get over the counter ,

not many questions on what else you are taking and possible reactions ,

What questions are asked of you when you buy drinks that contain ethanol of caffeine? Both have dangers, especially if consumed in excess.

Much of the responsibility should be on the drug consumer to inform themselves of the safe and optimal ways to consume drugs, whether it be for treating ailments, preventing disease, or recreation.

[SOTIRIOS]

....it's called recording and controlling purchases.....

....isn't a prescription required anyway for most drugs.....???

[baboon]

Only last week I had a gout attack. I asked my wife to drive to pharmacy and buy me a pack of colchicine (My wife works in a Faculty of Medicine at a well-known university). What did she come back with? Colchicine AND an expensive (240B) pack of antibiotics, as the pharmacist had recommended those as well.

Lol, antibiotics for gout? That's too funny.

Funny? Worrying, more like..

[h90]

Are these pharmacists the few who don't dispense antibiotics for people with a common cold?

A common cold needs at least 5 different pills 3 times per day......(that is what my staff gets)

Antibiotics (against virus?)

painkiller (for what pain?)

something for mucus

don't know what the other 2 are.

[Pundi6446]

Ya quit selling opium based pain killers.

[Neeranam]

Only last week I had a gout attack. I asked my wife to drive to pharmacy and buy me a pack of colchicine (My wife works in a Faculty of Medicine at a well-known university). What did she come back with? Colchicine AND an expensive (240B) pack of antibiotics, as the pharmacist had recommended those as well.

Is she a cleaner?

[Neeranam]

Are these pharmacists the few who don't dispense antibiotics for people with a common cold?

A common cold needs at least 5 different pills 3 times per day......(that is what my staff gets)

Antibiotics (against virus?)

painkiller (for what pain?)

something for mucus

don't know what the other 2 are.

It isn't a common cold - it's the weather flu. Often there are bacterial infections( beta-haemlytic strepptococcus) too , causing the sore throat.

I used to work in a bacteriology laboratory, not as a cleaner.

[hgma]

A Pharmacist usually know his costumers better then a doctor, who, by the number these days (PPP heritage from Yinglucks popular policies) and who have ample time to see a patient,ask a few questions, like "what can i do for you?", and of you go,with a bag of medication.

Watch list medication can still be bought over the counter while restricted medication only in State Hospitals, not even in clinic's or private Hospitals (NE situation)

I prefer the counter 'doctors'.

PPP = Pay Per Patient.

[Suradit69]

Maybe they should start by educating doctors.

Especially those in America, Australia and Europe where prescription writing abuse is rampant.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2683318/Extent-US-dependency-prescription-drugs-revealed-UN-report-shows-6-American-adults-hooked-pills.html

Extent of US dependency on prescription drugs revealed: UN report shows 6% of American adults hooked on pills

• UN's World Drug Report 2014 shows 6.1% of Americans abuse opioids
• They include morphine, codeine, oxycontin, vicodin and fentanyl
• ER admissions for painkiller overdoses rose by 132% between 2004 and 2011
• In the U.S. more people now die of painkiller overdoses than in car crashes

The last time I got some Ultracet at Fascino in Pattaya (it was prescribed for me by a doctor at BPH), I needed to put my name and address on a list they kept of those purchasing it.

Edited October 6, 2014 by Suradit69

[belg]

"the hazards of using low-quality or potentially dangerous medicines"

so why are they on sale ? made in thailand ?