Photo Courtesy: Image by Arek Socha from Pixabay | For representational purpose only
Dimapur, September 29 (MExN): The Drugs Control Administration under the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Nagaland, has issued a Health Safety Advisory cautioning against the indiscriminate use of painkillers, particularly Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), and antibiotics, citing the associated risk of chronic kidney disease.
The advisory, issued in pursuance of a directive and advisory of the Drugs Controller General (India), Central Drugs Control Organisation, is aimed at promoting the safe and rational use of medicines and preventing avoidable risks to public health, stated a state IPR report.
The advisory states that NSAIDs, painkillers and antibiotics should not be taken indiscriminately, repeatedly or for prolonged periods without medical advice. Antibiotics should not be used for self-medication or for conditions where such treatment is not clinically indicated, including most uncomplicated viral infections.
Advice for public
The public has been advised to take antibiotics prescribed by healthcare professionals strictly as directed, and not to share them with others or use leftover medicines.
Individuals with pre-existing kidney disease or other risk factors for renal impairment have been particularly advised to inform their healthcare professionals before using NSAIDs.
The advisory also urges people to seek medical advice when pain, fever or other symptoms persist or recur, instead of repeatedly using painkillers or antibiotics on their own.
Directions for healthcare professionals
For healthcare professionals, the advisory says NSAIDs and antibiotics should be prescribed only when clinically indicated, after considering the patient's clinical condition, age, co-morbidities, concomitant medicines and relevant risk factors.
In the case of NSAIDs, the lowest effective dose for the shortest appropriate duration should be considered, particularly for patients at increased risk of renal impairment. Doctors have also been asked to take appropriate precautions while prescribing these drugs to patients with renal impairment, dehydration, cardiovascular disease or other conditions that may heighten the risks.
On antibiotics, the advisory calls for judicious prescribing in keeping with applicable antimicrobial stewardship principles. Healthcare professionals have been asked to consider the likely causative organism, and the site and severity of infection, and, wherever appropriate, relevant microbial investigations and local susceptibility patterns.
Unnecessary combination therapy, inappropriate antibiotic selection, incorrect dosing and unnecessarily prolonged treatment should be avoided, it said.
Responsibilities of pharmacists, retailers
The advisory also places responsibilities on pharmacists, retailers and distributors, who have been directed to strictly comply with statutory requirements relating to the sale and distribution of Schedule H, H1 and other prescription drugs.
Schedule H/H1 medicines are not to be sold at retail except in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Drugs Rules, 1945, it said.
Pharmacists and retailers have further been advised not to encourage or facilitate self-medication with antibiotics or prescription-only NSAIDs, and to duly observe the prescribed warnings and conditions of sale on the labels of such medicines.
Hospitals told to strengthen systems
Hospitals and healthcare institutions have been advised to strengthen systems for rational prescribing and monitoring of NSAIDs and antibiotics, and to promote antimicrobial stewardship, prescription review and appropriate patient counselling.
