Most Over-Prescribed Medicines:Modern medicine has saved innumerable lives; unfortunately, the over-prescribing of drugs with reckless abandon has become one of the greatest threats to human health globally. Quick relief is often the prime consideration when it comes to prescribing by the physician. However, unnecessary use may be the reason for the side effects, long-term dependency, and long-term risks to health. The following are the top 7 most over-prescribed medicines in the world worth knowing about.
Antibiotics do save lives but are among the most misused drugs. An over-prescription implies resistance to antibiotics, and thus making the treatment of infections harder.
For severe pain, opioids are prescribed, so countries where they are heavily prescribed suffer from dependency and abuse of the drug. Safer therapies to treat pain are usually ignored.
Drugs like omeprazole, prescribed for acidity and heartburn, are often continued longer than necessary. This can cause kidney problems and deficiencies in some vitamins and minerals.
Antidepressants are prescribed for all purported cases of anxiety and depression. They may be prescribed without proper psychological evaluation, thus raising questions about the unnecessary dependence of patients.
Statins are useful for heart disease prevention, but they are uneasily prescribed even in cases where lifestyle alteration may suffice. Muscle pain and fatigue can possibly be side effects from the overuse of statin medications.
Benzo medications, like diazepam or alprazolam, provide short-term fixes for stress and sleeplessness, yet prolonged prescription can give rise to dependency and cognitive impairments.
Also Read: Tips to Identify Fake Medicines and Stay Safe
Corticosteroids can also be used to treat the inflammatory response, yet there are numerous steroids prescribed for trivial problems. Adverse long-term effects include weight gain, diabetes, and immune system suppression.
Two or more prescribed medicines should raise the question: Do you really need them all? Speak to your doctor, ask for a second opinion, and investigate whether some lifestyle change could replace long-term prescribing.
The problem of over-prescription is a silent one that exists worldwide. Awareness will allow us to make smarter and safer choices about our health.