SOME ADULTS who take liquid medicines have developed the bad habit of placing the bottle to their mouths, judging the dose and drinking. This is particularly noticeable among men in Jamaica who describe teaspoon doses as "baby" amounts. However, a teaspoon of liquid may contain large quantities of a drug and to exceed the recommended amount can have grave consequences.
In the formulation of pharmaceutical products, the identification of appropriate doses is a highly scientific process. The safe and effective amount of a drug is determined during several years of research during which ineffective and toxic ranges are also established. Sometimes pharmacists or physicians make calculated dose adjustments due to several individual patient factors including nutritional status, medical status, weight and age. Consumers who purchase medicines off the shelf are best advised to stick to the dose and regimen recommended.
For the regimen (frequency and duration of treatment) is also important. With antibiotics, for example, the time between each dose is calculated to make sure that blood levels of the drug do not fall below the range that affects the invading bacteria. When the levels fall too low, the bacteria are given a reprieve during which they can plan defence strategies. What may occur is called bacterial resistance and the effectiveness of the antibiotic is compromised. With some medicines, too frequent use can overtax the ability of the body to remove the drug, producing toxic levels. Consumers should therefore not only take the right dose but comply with the recommended regimen.
Some patients believe that small tablets are less powerful than big tablets. Nothing could be further from the truth. What is important about a tablet is the amount of the active ingredient that it contains and the nature of the ingredient.
Consumers who have decided to buy a product from off the shelf should:
make sure that the container is properly labelled the name of the produce, ingredients and amounts, the total amount of contents, name and address of manufacturer, the expiry date, cautions and dosage instructions, are important features;
examine seals to ensure that they are intact;
read carefully the cautions and other restrictions
check expiry dates
adhere to the recommended dosage regimen
consult a health care provider when in doubt.
Ellen Campbell Grizzle, Director, Information and Research, National Council on Drug Abuse (NCDA)/President, Caribbean Association of Pharmacists.
