May 21, 2009 – In the event of a cold or the flu, some opt for shock treatment, using drugs such as Neo Citran®, Robaxacet® and Tylenol® … at the same time. Without knowing it, they absorb three times the recommended dose of acetaminophen.
It is to avoid such situations that Éditions Protégez-Vous published the Practical guide to pharmacy1. Designed in collaboration with the Ordre des pharmaciens du Québec, this document aims to help the general public navigate the shelves of over-the-counter drugs.
Thus, the first pages provide the general rules to follow when it comes to self-treatment. We learn, for example, that certain drinks – including grapefruit juice – can modify the effect of a remedy.
Further down, the document lists popular drugs to treat common health problems, from fever and acne to insomnia and vaginitis.
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Acetaminophen: beware of poisoning! |
“We must be vigilant, and this is why the Guide deals with the active products of these drugs, rather than brand names,” said Guylaine Bertrand, pharmacist and spokesperson for the guide at the Ordre des pharmaciens du Québec.
Emphasis is also placed on precautions, side effects and prevention. For example, it is stressed that it is important to consult your pharmacist before buying a decongestant, since this type of product exacerbates the symptoms of several diseases.
According to Guylaine Bertrand, the guide is a very useful tool that popularizes the information you need to have before going to a pharmacy.
“But he will never replace a pharmacist or a doctor,” she warns. It is necessary to consult if one is already taking another medication or if one suffers from a particular state of health. “
Marie-Hélène Croisetière – PasseportSanté.net
1. For more information: www.protegez-vous.org[consulté le 21 mai 2009].
2. See our new Acetaminophen: beware of poisoning! on this subject.
