Facts and Fables
The use of common medications is ridden with several misplaced beliefs. Let’s take a close look at two common facts and fables that colour the world of medication in this country.
The heat index
It is a popular belief that allopathic medicines cause an extreme dryness in the body. People cite different facts to buttress this thought: a change in the colour of urine, a feeling of heat and warmth in the body, and dryness of the mouth and throat. Yet, the truth is, these effects cannot be generalised to all dugs employed by modern medicine, nor are these a representative of any heat reaction in the body.
Medicines that are discharged or eliminated in the urine deepen its colour. Vitamin supplements colour the urine deep yellow, antituberculous medicine rifampicin colours it red or deep pink, while nitrofurantoin can colour it brown. Nitrates cause dilation of the blood vessels, and for that reason, lead to a sudden feeling of warmth.
Antihistamines and the tricyclic antidepressants, because of their chemical effect, lead to dryness of the mouth. The heat index of the medicine is not in the picture.
The less, the better
Some people believe that it is best to take the minimal amount of medicine. Guided by this belief, they resort to taking only half the prescribed dose of a medication and then feel perturbed when the treatment fails.
The fact is that the quantity of a drug must reach an optimum level in the body, and this level must be maintained for it to show its therapeutic effect. Further, since the body begins to metabolise the medication soon as it enters the circulation; each medication only has a certain finite life in the body. So, the next time you feel like halving your doctor’s prescription, just remember this simple fact.
The author is a well-known columnist, Senior Specialist, Safdarjung Hospital and Professor, VM Medical College
Post new comment