Harmful Effects of Non-Prescribed Medication
Medicines can be clubbed into three broad categories namely, prescribed medicines, non-prescribed medicines and complementary medicines. Prescribed drugs are 
those which cannot be purchased without a doctor’s prescription. These include antibiotics, strong painkillers and contraceptive pills. Non-prescribed medication is also referred to as OTC or over the counter pills. These do not require a doctor’s prescription and can be bought from any pharmacy. OTCs mostly include light painkillers, cough/cold medicines, etc. Complementary medicines are also OTCs and can also be called alternate or traditional medicines. These comprise of vitamins, minerals, herbs, aromatherapy, aqua puncture, homeopathy and ayurveda.
Non-prescribed medicines even though available over the counter should be consumed with a lot of chariness. They may react to an individual’s allergies giving disastrous results. Sometimes, they may also react with other drugs being consumed by the user and form a fatal combination. Certain drugs are meant for adults or older children only and should not be administered to infants. Also, various OTCs are extremely dangerous for pregnant women and should not be consumed without consulting a pharmacist or a doctor.
Non-prescribed medicines can be broadly grouped into the following categories:
- Antacids
Theses decrease the amount of acid in the stomach thereby assuaging heartburn or indigestion caused by superfluous presence of the same. If consumed regularly they may cause diarrhea, constipation, high blood pressure or kidney problems.
- Laxatives
These are used to combat constipation. They may work in various ways. For example they may either speed up the passing of stool by irritating the walls of the intestine or they may increase the volume of stool or they may even soften the stool to make it pass easily. Regular use may interfere with the body’s natural ability to absorb certain vitamins and minerals or hamper sensation in the large intestine making the body largely dependent on the laxative.
- Antidiarrheals
As the name suggests, these fight diarrhea. They may do so in two ways; by thickening the stool or by slowing down the intestinal spasms. Children younger than twelve years of age if suffering from diarrhea should not be treated with OTCs as certain antidiarrheals are meant only for adults.
- Cold/Allergy Remedies
Meant to treat a cold or an allergy, these should be avoided for two reasons. One, the cold with self-heal within a week’s time and two, these may stimulate another allergic reaction.
- Pain Killers
These relieve pain, reduce fever, itching and some also decrease inflammation. Their side effects include stomach itching, ulcers, dizziness, ringing in the ears, visual disturbance and rapid breathing.
