Chief pharmacist urges for medication to be taken as prescribed
It is reminded that medication are drugs, and may be detrimental to good health if taken irregularly,
Ekurhuleni health practitioners have recorded a trend of some patients claiming that prescribed medicine do not work for them, and which has been attributed to the consumption inconsistent with their prescription.
Ekurhuleni chief pharmacist, Mpho Mashego has emphasised the importance of following health care professionals’ instructions when taking medication.
“Medication must not be used for any symptom of illness other than the one for which it was prescribed,” said Mashego.
“Taking of medicines has become a daily routine for many people and it is important that they accommodate the medicine intake into their habits.
“They must also accept that healthcare providers have their best interest at heart since both medicine and healthcare providers are unavoidable necessities for good health and in some cases to sustain life.”
Mashego has noted that not everyone enjoys the luxury of consulting a private doctor, so it is imperative that patients ask the health care professionals or pharmacists to write down medication instructions if it can make it easier to understand their medication treatment.
“Medication are drugs, and may be detrimental to good health if taken irregularly, but taking them correctly and understanding the right way to administer them can reduce the risks.
Mashego further encouraged patients to pay close attention to the key words that give an indication of how a particular medication is administered, for example whether it is taken orally or through a nasal intake.
The table explaining some key words is given below:
| Route | Explanation |
| Buccal | Held inside the cheek |
| Inhalable | Breathed in through a tube or mask |
| Nasal | Given into the nose by spray or pump |
| Ophthalmic | Given into the eye by drops, gel, or ointment |
| Oral | Swallowed by mouth as a tablet, capsule, lozenge, or liquid |
| Otic | Given by drops into the ear |
| Rectal | Inserted into the rectum |
“The way medicines are taken is dependent on the part of the body being treated and the way the drug works within the body.”
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