Stories
Stop Self-Medicating: Govt Warns Against Unsupervised Painkiller, Antibiotic Use
- •The CDSCO has cautioned against unsupervised use of painkillers (NSAIDs) and antibiotics, citing risks like kidney complications and adverse drug reactions.
- •Drugs Controller General (India) Dr Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi emphasized rational and responsible use, compliance with prescriptions, and stronger antimicrobial stewardship.
- •Many NSAIDs and antibiotics are Schedule H/H1 drugs, requiring a prescription from a registered medical practitioner for sale and distribution.
- •The CDSCO advises patients not to self-treat with antibiotics for viral infections, to complete prescribed courses, and not to share medicines.
- •Doctors are urged to prescribe NSAIDs and antibiotics judiciously, considering patient factors and using the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration, while pharmacists and hospitals must ensure compliance with regulations and promote appropriate prescribing.
Key Questions Answered
The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) warned that the repeated and unsupervised use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and antibiotics can lead to kidney-related complications, chronic kidney disease, and other adverse drug reactions.
Antibiotics are designed exclusively to target bacteria and have zero effect on viral replication; taking them for uncomplicated viral infections constitutes unnecessary self-treatment that contributes to antimicrobial resistance and delays proper care.
Pharmacists, retailers, and distributors have been directed to strictly follow statutory requirements under the Drugs Rules, 1945, ensuring that Schedule H and H1 drugs like NSAIDs and antibiotics are not sold at retail without a valid medical prescription.
