Nowadays, almost all forms of media are filled with medication advertisements. Unfortunately, many people who are not even patients fall for the exaggerated promises that range from pain relief to the end of depression.
The worst part is that even healthcare institutions act as a mouthpiece through the overprescription of medicines. As per stats, the global usage of medicines shot up by 14% over the past 5 years. And it is projected to increase further by 12% by 2028. Let’s have a look at how this medication overload will affect the public.
Increased Cost
As the cost of living soars up globally, over-prescription could literally burn away the pockets of ordinary people. Unfortunately, the prices are also rising with the demand. According to the US government, the prices of some medicines are rising more than 5 times compared to the previous year. Such increased healthcare spending may be beyond the reach of low-income families who are struggling to meet both ends.
And, it’s not just a micro-level program faced by individuals. When people spend more on healthcare, public investment hits rock bottom. As a result, development activities will be affected, especially for developing economies.
Side Effects
No medicine is completely risk-free. For instance, the usage of some antibiotics causes allergies among approximately 5% of the population.
As prescriptions increase, patients’ exposure to medicines increases. This could ramp up the chances of experiencing side effects. The combination of multiple medications further heightens the impact.
In the worst cases, it could even lead to serious health repercussions beyond mere side effects. Take the example of Suboxone, a medication recommended for treating opioid addictions. While it helps reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms, it also has side effects. Over recent years, the rise in opioid prescriptions has sparked numerous Suboxone lawsuit cases. Eventually, the Suboxone manufacturers placed a warning label in 2022.
As per TorHoerman Law, the medications were proven to be acidic and reduce the strength of enamel, which can impact an individual’s overall dental health. It became a significant health concern over the past few years.
Mental Health
Treatment of mental health conditions only with medications is an alarming practice. Even though certain medications are proven to be effective in fighting conditions like depression, the chances of recurrence are higher. That means even if a patient has recovered from the disorders, they may experience a return of symptoms after stopping the medication.
Moreover, overprescribing medications to treat mental health conditions, especially at the starting stage, may create a negative impact on the thoughts of the patient. This makes them more dependent on medications, which could transform their short-term health conditions into long-term chronic disorders.
Environmental Impact
The healthcare sector plays a significant role in greenhouse gas emissions. The official statistics itself state that medicines account for 25% of total NHS emissions. That means medication overload is a critical issue that needs to be addressed to meet various countries’ carbon footprint goals.
Apart from emissions, pharmaceuticals can pollute the environment through various pathways. For instance, if medical wastes are improperly disposed of in water bodies, the hormonal system of aquatic animals gets affected. Gradually, their reproductive systems may be affected, leading to a population shortage.
Antibiotic Resistance
Remember, antibiotics may be able to save your life by clearing infections quickly, but they have no role in improving your overall health. In fact, can put your life at stake.
When doctors prescribe antibiotics too often, especially for illnesses that don’t need them, it gives bacteria more chances to adapt and become resistant. Soon, you may need more antibiotics to take effect, which pushes the side effects even further. An unattended infection would be more dangerous for such patients.
How To Tackle Over Prescriptions?
Raising awareness among the general public is the first step to tackling the issue of overprescription of medications. Here are some effective strategies:
- Health professionals must assess the relevance of each medication for treating minor diseases and conclude whether it could be safely stopped.
- Patients must do ‘prescription checkups’ to make sure that they actually need the prescribed medicine.
- Ensure a strong feedback mechanism in the health care system where patients can report any side effects of prescribed medicine as soon as possible to make the required adjustments.
- Healthcare associations should release guidelines that enforce uniform prescribing practices among doctors.
Medications have obviously prolonged life expectancy to a significant rate. But keep in mind that more medicines are not equal to more health. In fact, medication overload can trigger serious health complications like nausea, depression, cognitive impairments, etc.
People experiencing these symptoms while taking multiple medications are strongly encouraged to consult a doctor promptly to prevent further complications.
