Frequently Asked Questions
Most frequent questions and answers
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What are generic drugs?
A generic drug is a medication created to be the same as an already marketed brand-name drug in dosage form, safety, strength, route of administration, quality, performance characteristics, and intended use. These similarities help to demonstrate bioequivalence, which means that a generic medicine works in the same way and provides the same clinical benefit as the brand-name medicine. In other words, you can take a generic medicine as an equal substitute for its brand-name counterpart.
I DONâT ALWAYS REMEMBER TO TAKE MY MEDICATION. WHAT SHOULD I DO ?
It is often hard to fit taking medications into your schedule, especially if you are taking several medications. The key to success is finding a system that works for you, which fits into your lifestyle and habits.
Here are some tips to help you remember to take your medication:
Make taking medication part of your daily routine. Take it right before or after another activity that you do every day, such as dressing, eating breakfast (if taking the medication with food is okay), taking a shower, going to bed â whatever is appropriate for you.
Try placing the medication vial in a place where you will see it. Near the coffee/tea container , by the door, or next to your keys are a few good places. Keep in mind that the place you choose should be out of the reach of children and the medication is away from strong light, heat, and humidity.
Set an alarm (on your watch, clock, electronic organizer, cell phone, laptop, or iPad) to remind you when itâs time for your next dose.
Get a friend to remind you.
Leave notes around the house where you will see them. Consider places such as the bathroom mirror, refrigerator door, TV remote control, or next to the place where you put your wallet or purse.
You might have to mix and match these ideas to find what works for you.
How do I know if I need a dietary supplement ?
A. Many products are marketed as dietary supplements, and it is important to remember that supplements include not only vitamins and minerals, but also herbs and other botanicals, probiotics, fish oil, and other substances.
Some supplements may help ensure that you get adequate amounts of essential nutrients or help promote optimal health and performance if you do not consume a variety of foods, as recommended by Dietary Guidelines for Indians.
However, dietary supplements are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure disease. In some cases, dietary supplements may have unwanted effects, especially if taken before surgery or with other dietary supplements or medicines, or if you have certain health conditions.
Do not self-diagnose any health condition. Work with your health care provider to determine how best to achieve optimal health. Also check with your health care provider before taking a supplement, especially if you take any medicines or other dietary supplements or if you have any health conditions.
MY MEDICATION DOESNâT SEEM TO BE WORKING. WHATâS GOING ON ?
You are taking the medication exactly as your doctor prescribed, but you arenât sure if your medication is working. There may be a number of reasons:
It may take time. Some medications take days or weeks to work. If you are taking one of these medications, it may simply not have reached its full effect yet.
Medications that may take time to work:
antidepressants
skin medications
certain asthma medications (corticosteroid inhalers)
high blood pressure medications
cholesterol medications
thyroid medications
osteoporosis medications
Other medications not listed here may also take time to work. To check your medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Some medications need to be taken in a special way in order to work properly, such as with or without food, or at specific times of the day. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
The dose may not be right for you. Medications may not work optimally if they are not given at the proper dose.
This may not be the best medication for you. Sometimes, a medication may not work for everyone. Donât be discouraged if this happens to you â talk to your doctor or pharmacist. Often, they can suggest another medication or treatment that may work better for you.
You may have a condition where you donât feel symptoms. Many conditions such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol have no symptoms. The only way to see if they are working is to have a test.
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Why consumers should pay attention to expiration dates of medicine ?
Drug expiration dates suggests the time period during which the product is known to remain stable,retains its strength, quality, and purity when it is stored as per its labeled storage conditions.
Are there risks associated with taking expired drugs ?
One should be aware that there may be several potential harms that can occur from taking an expired drug or one that may have changed because it was not stored according to the labeled conditions. If a drug has degraded, it might not provide the patient with the intended benefit because it will have lower strength than intended. In addition, when a drug degrades it may yield toxic compounds that may cause consumers to experience unintended side effects. Patients with serious and life-threatening diseases may be particularly vulnerable to potential risks from drugs that have not been stored properly.
What is antimicrobial resistance ?
Antimicrobial resistance occurs when microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites change in ways that render the medications used to cure the infections they cause ineffective. When the microorganisms become resistant to most antimicrobials they are often referred to as âsuperbugsâ. This is a major concern because a resistant infection may kill, can spread to others, and imposes huge costs to individuals and society.
Antimicrobial resistance is the broader term for resistance in different types of microorganisms and encompasses resistance to antibacterial, antiviral, antiparasitic and antifungal drugs.
Antimicrobial resistance occurs naturally but is facilitated by the inappropriate use of medicines, for example using antibiotics for viral infections such as cold or flu, or sharing antibiotics. Low-quality medicines, wrong prescriptions and poor infection prevention and control also encourage the development and spread of drug resistance. Lack of government commitment to address these issues, poor surveillance and a diminishing arsenal of tools to diagnose, treat and prevent also hinder the control of antimicrobial drug resistance.
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Does stopping a course of antibiotics early lead to antibiotic resistance ?
There has been a lot of research into how long antibiotic courses should be, to determine the shortest possible length of course needed to completely kill all bacteria.
If you are being treated for an infection, the kind of antibiotics your doctor prescribes and the length of the course should be based on the best evidence.
Feeling better, or an improvement in symptoms, does not always mean that the infection has completely gone. Your doctor has had years of training and has access to the latest evidence â so always follow their advice.
Evidence is emerging that shorter courses of antibiotics may be just as effective as longer courses for some infections. Shorter treatments make more sense â they are more likely to be completed properly, have fewer side effects and also likely to be cheaper. They also reduce the exposure of bacteria to antibiotics, thereby reducing the speed by which the pathogen develops resistance.
