Over-the-counter and Prescription Drugs
Prescription drugs are medications that require a prescription from a doctor, dentist or nurse. Over-the-counter medications can be described as medications which do not need a prescription and can be bought from a pharmacy or other shop.
Every medication has some risk for harmful effects, sometimes serious ones. Health professionals consider the potential benefits and risks to each patient before prescribing or selling medications and take into account factors such as how old the person is, how heavy they are, what other conditions they have, what medications they are already taking and what the side effects and interactions of the drugs are. When prescription drugs are misused, they can be just as dangerous as drugs that are made illegally.
Prescription medications can contribute to harm and overdose in the following ways;
- Taking someone else’s medication to relieve stress or physical complaints without seeing a health professional. People might try this to relieve pain, help manage moods or emotions, stay awake or fall asleep without knowing all of the risks.
- Taking medication in a way other than recommended, for instance, taking more than the prescribed dose or taking it more often.
- Using medication to get high.
- Taking medication to help avoid withdrawals or manage the come down of illegal drugs.
- Mixing it with alcohol or illegal drugs. Your pharmacist can tell you whether it is safe to drink alcohol with specific medication drugs.
Keep yourself safe
- The only way to avoid all of the risks is to not take any drugs which are not prescribed for you. Think carefully and get as much information as you can about the risks before you start.
- Do not share your prescription medication with other people.
- Do not mix prescribed or over-the-counter medication or alcohol with illegal drugs.
- Check with your pharmacist if it is safe to take alcohol along with any medications you are taking.
- Follow advice given by the doctor or pharmacist and on the medication label.
- If you are prescribed or using an opioid drug such as morphine, methadone or heroin, make sure you have a supply of naloxone handy – particularly if you plan to use other substances.
- Do not be afraid to ask for help. There are services across Grampian who can offer advice and support.