Medicine Myths

Common misconceptions about prescription drugs explained by GP Dr Helen Webberley.

15:54 24 May 2016

Dr Helen Webberley, GP at oxfordonlinephamacy.co.uk, sets the record straight about common prescription drugs misconceptions.

 

Myth 1: Don’t take paracetamol guidelines too seriously. Many people see the maximum dosage instructions as merely guidelines. However, Dr Webberley said that doing so could have fatal consequences. She said: “Paracetamol works best at a proper dose – i.e. two tablets at a time for an adult with a maximum of eight per day. There is a clear maximum dosage which should not be exceeded or you could overdose.”

 

Myth 2: The flu jab makes you ill: Believing that flu jab makes people sick, many dread the vaccine every year. However, the vaccine does not contain the live flu virus, which means it cannot put it into your system. Any aches or fever-like symptoms are actually the body’s way of reacting in the desired way to the vaccine. Dr Webberley, said: “These immune responses also cause the symptoms of flu-like illnesses, such as tiredness, fever, aches and pains. So you’re reacting to the vaccine rather than the actual flu bug.”

 

Myth 3: Branded medicines are more effective than generic ones. Both brand-named and generic medicines contain exactly the same active ingredient. “Sometimes it might seem that generic medicines don’t work as well but I think much of this is down to the placebo effect”, Dr Webberley said.

 

Myth 4: It does not matter how you take your tablets. Swallowing certain tablets without enough water can make them less effective. “All pills should be swallowed with lots of water to get them down into the stomach as fast as possible. That ensures they can start the absorption process in the right place and not get stuck in the gullet,” says Dr Webberley.

 

Myth 5: Your GP does not need to know which vitamins you take. “Some vitamins will counteract certain medicines, so your GP needs to know exactly what you take. A good example of this is St John’s wort, which affects the action of the contraceptive pill” explained Dr Webberley.

 

Myth 6: You should keep your drugs in the bathroom. Keeping medicines in the bathroom can damage them. “Again, it’s a case of reading the instructions as these will always tell you how your medicines should be stored. Some should be kept in the fridge, some in the dark and some in a cool ­environment. Otherwise they can be affected by damp conditions or light” says Dr Webberley.

 

Myth 7: Natural remedies are much safer. Many natural remedies available today are not clinically tested and thus, cannot be proven safe. Dr Webberley said: “By all means adopt healthy habits to reduce the effects of these problems, but if your GP ­recommends ­medication it’s because they have been shown to have benefits, such as living longer!”

 

Myth 8: You cannot drink alcohol when you’re on antibiotics. Being on antibiotics does not automatically mean avoiding alcohol all together. Dr Webberley said: “Read the label and see what it says. If it doesn’t mention alcohol then you’re safe to have a drink or two.”

 

Myth 9: Painkillers can target specific parts of the body. Painkillers cannot tell which part of the body is hurting. “Some painkillers are anti-­inflammatory and are great for bone and muscle aches, but otherwise they are blanket painkillers and will kill all pain equally,” says Dr Webberley.