Medicines For Elvis C.
Ibera
Mobile Teacher
Common Illnesses
LOREM IPSUM LOREM IPSUM LOREM IPSUM
DOLOR DOLOR DOLOR
medicine - any drug or remedy.
Pretest
A. Match the branded medicines in Column A with the illnesses they cure in
Column B. Write the letters in the blanks before the numbers.
Column A Column B
___ 1. Amoxicillin (a) headache, fever and pain
___ 2. Bactidol (b) diarrhea or loose bowel movement
(c) bacterial infections
___ 3. Betadine
(d) colds and flu
___ 4. Biogesic (e) dry cough
___ 5. Bisolvon (f) red, tired eyes
___ 6. Diatabs (g) skin cleanser
___ 7. Midol (h) dysmenorrhea or painful menstruation
(i) sore throat
___ 8. Neozep
(j) fever and muscle pain
___ 9. Ponstan
___10. Visine
Answer
A. Match the branded medicines in Column A with the illnesses they cure in
Column B. Write the letters in the blanks before the numbers.
Column A Column B
___ 1. Amoxicillin
1. (c) Amoxicillin is used to treat bacterial infections
___ 2. Bactidol or illnesses and diseases caused by bacteria.
___ 3. Betadine 2. (i) Bactidol is a cure for sore throat.
___ 4. Biogesic 3. (g) Betadine is a skin cleanser.
___ 5. Bisolvon 4. (a) Biogesic is used for headache, fever and pain.
___ 6. Diatabs 5. (e) Bisolvon is a cure for dry cough.
___ 7. Midol 6. (b) Diatabs is used to relieve diarrhea or loose bowel movement.
___ 8. Neozep 7. (h) Midol is a cure for dysmenorrhea or painful menstruation.
___ 9. Ponstan 8. (d) Neozep is used to cure colds and flu.
___10. Visine 9. (j) Ponstan is used for fever and muscle pain.
10. (f) Visine is used to relieve red, tired eyes.
Let’s see your own attitude towards taking drugs or
medicines.
Most common illnesses can be treated through
self-medication.
In fact, it is the first line of defense in treating
an illness. It includes understanding your body
and its signs and symptoms. When symptoms
appear, they must be treated accordingly.
Self-medication involves taking over-the-counter (OTC)
medicines. They are called over-the-counter medicines
because they can be bought directly from the counters of
drug stores and even grocery stores. Also, you don’t need
a prescription from your doctor to buy these medicines.
Because of this, people sometimes think
that they are safe to take. However, these medicine may
sometimes create more problems.
OTC medicines can be effectively used to treat the
symptoms associated with illness or disease.
However, if the wrong medicine is taken, it can
cause harm and, at times, lead to severe sickness.
Therefore, it is important to know about the OTC
drugs as well as the prescription medicines you take.
Safety considerations in taking OTC medicine
Read and follow the instructions on the
label carefully.
Check the label each time the product is
purchased.
Check also the ingredients and see if it is
most appropriate for that particular ailment.
It is very important to remember that OTC drugs
suppress symptoms. They do not cure disease. That
is why these drugs are recommended for minor
ailments like headaches, muscle pains, indigestion,
diarrhea, fever, cough and colds, among others.
Some people experience adverse effects from OTC
drugs even when using them properly. A severe
allergic reaction may occur to some analgesics.
One should also be careful when
using OTC medications for small
children or the elderly. The dose of
the drug is very important in both
cases.
In children, it is very difficult to
determine whether a symptom is of
a minor or major ailment. A disease
progresses very fast in children.
Basic Guidelines for Over-the-Counter Drugs
1. Read the instructions about the dose.
Any one below 12 years is considered a
child.
2. The drug dose is according to the body
weight. If you find any child below 12
years over weight, the dose can be
increased slightly.
Basic Guidelines for Over-the-Counter Drugs
3. If someone is between 12-15 years
and he is underweight, he should be
considered for under 12 years dose
schedule.
4. Always start with a smaller dose for
elderly people.
Basic Guidelines for Over-the-Counter Drugs
5. Always follow instructions on the
labels.
6. Never take extra doses to speed up
recovery. This may cause adverse
effects.
Basic Guidelines for Over-the-Counter Drugs
7. Never deceive your child, telling him
drugs are sweets, syrups, soft drinks,
or chocolates. If the child happens to like
the taste of the drug, he may steal
it and eat it.
Basic Guidelines for Over-the-Counter Drugs
8. Identify your weak points and
commonly suffered ailments. During a visit
to the doctor ask him what over-the-
counter medicines you may safely take to
treat the symptoms of the common
ailments.
Let’s Think About This
1. Think of several medicines that you often buy over-the-
counter at a drugstore.
2. What made you decide to buy these medicines?
3. For what illness/es did you buy these medicines? Did
they treat your illness/es quickly?
4. Have you encountered any side effects after taking these
medicines? If yes, how did you go about it?
Sample answers only.
1. Biogesic, Diatabs, Alaxan, Neozep
2. They can be bought over-the-counter and they are cheaper
than other medicines.
3. For fever, diarrhea, muscle pain and colds.
4. I once had an allergic reaction after drinking two tablets of
alaxan.
Then, I went to a dermatologist to have my allergies treated.
Common ailments and appropriate common
OTC drugs
1. Cold - cold medicines are basically
combinations of painkiller and
decongestant.
2. Cough - cough syrups a combination of
cough suppressant and expectorant.
Common ailments and appropriate common
OTC drugs
3. Pain – painkillers, Paracetamol and
Aspirin or sometimes, both as combination.
4. Fever - Analgesic and Anti-Fever Products
1) aspirin, 2) acetaminophen, 3) ibuprofen,
4) ketoprofen, and 5) naproxen.
The table below shows over-the-counter
(OTC) pain and fever relievers.
ASPIRIN ACETAMINOPEN IBUPROFEN
Anacin, Ascriptin Bayer Excedrin, Panadol, Tylenol Adil, Ibuprin
Sample brand Names Bufferin, Ecotrin, Empirin Motrin-IB, Nuprin
Yes Yes Yes
Reduces pain and fever
Gastrointestinal None when taken as GI bleeding stomach upset,
Side effects (GI) bleeding directed for short periods bloating and pain
stomach upset (days to weeks)
Don’t take if you have Overdoses can be toxic to Don’t take you have
Special caution allergy to aspirin asthma, the liver. Alcohol enhances allergy to aspirin,
Bleeding disorder and toxic effects of high doses asthma, heart failure,
ulcer Kidney problems, Ulcer
Children’s use Can cause Available Available
Reyes syndrome for children for children
* Reyes syndrome is a disease of the brain
with symptoms such as fever, vomiting,
disorientation and coma (deep and often
prolonged unconsciousness)
Common ailments and appropriate common
OTC drugs
5. Heartburn, indigestion, and sour stomach -
Antacids and Indigestion Aids
Match the items in columns A and B. Draw lines to
connect them.
A B
Paracetamol anti-diarrheal
Ibuprofen painkiller
Expectorant anti-heartburn
Antacid anti-fever
Loperamide anti-cough
Answer
Let’s Think About This
When was the last time you took
prescription medicines?
For what particular illness did you use
it?
Were you totally cured from your
illness? Did you experience any side
effects?
Prescription Medicines
Prescription medicines require a written order
form from a doctor, dentist or nurse practitioner.
The order authorizes a pharmacist to give you a
particular medicine.
These are usually for the treatment of specific
medical problems.
Prescription medicines are more powerful and
have more side effects than OTC
drugs. Many can be habit-forming or unsafe.
Using Your Medicines Correctly
♦ Ask questions so that you understand
how to take your medicine before leaving
the doctor’s office or pharmacy.
♦ Fill all medicine prescriptions promptly
and renew them before they run out.
Using Your Medicines Correctly
♦ Take all of your medicine doses on time.
If you miss a dose, ask your doctor or
pharmacist what to do.
♦ Report any side effects or reactions to
your doctor immediately.
Using Your Medicines Correctly
♦ Never stop taking a prescribed medicine for
any length of time without
asking your physician.
♦ Always discard outdated medicines.
♦ Don’t take a larger or smaller dose of
medicine than prescribed.
Using Your Medicines Correctly
♦ Don’t share your medicines or take medicines prescribed
for others, no matter how similar your symptoms.
♦ Ask your pharmacist about ways to keep track of your
medicines such as containers with sections for daily doses.
♦ Never use medicine from a package that shows signs of
tampering, damage or imperfections.
Common Mistakes on how people incorrectly take medicines
♦ Not getting the initial prescription filled or failing to
refill when indicated.
♦ Under-dosing, such as taking less medicine than
prescribed, or taking it less frequently, or skipping
doses.
Common Mistakes on how people incorrectly take medicines
♦ Stopping a medicine too soon, for both long-term and
short-term treatments, whether or not symptoms improve.
♦ Overusing medicines—taking too high a dose or taking
doses too often.
♦ Taking doses of medicine at the wrong time of the day.
Let’s Remember:
♦ Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines:
— Can be bought without prescription;
— Are intended for relief of minor
ailments;
— Are considered safe if warnings and
directions are followed;
— Can be harmful if misused.
♦ Prescription medicines require a
written order form from a doctor,
dentist or nurse practitioner before
the medicine can be given by the
pharmacist.
♦ Analgesics and anti-inflammatory
drugs such as aspirin and
acetaminophen are reasonably safe
to take for short periods of time.
♦ Common colds are usually treated
with drugs that combine painkiller and
decongestant. But the most effective
way of treating colds is taking lots of
fluids, juices and rest.
♦ When your cough is dry and
without sputum or phlegm, you
must take a cough suppressant or
antitussive. If your cough is with
sputum, you are required to take
expectorants.
♦ For pain, paracetamol is the
safest pain reliever. Aspirin is
also a good pain and ache
reliever. However, it will also
cause ulcer and stomach upset.
Let’s See What You Have Learned
A. Fill in the blanks with the correct answer. Choose your answers from the words inside the box.
Two main types of painkillers are available over the counter. These are paracetamol and aspirin. (1) __________ is
the safest painkiller of all. On the other hand, large doses of (2) _____________ can cause ringing in the ears.
Aspirin Decongestant Codeine
Cough syrups containing (3) _____________ can cause constipation if used in excess. Basically, cold medicines are
combinations of (4) _____________ and (5) _____________.
Painkiller Paracetamol
B. List down 5 anti-fever medicines.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Answer:
Two main types of painkillers are available over the counter. These are paracetamol and aspirin. (1)
Paracetamol is the safest painkiller of all. On the other hand, large doses of (2) Aspirin can cause ringing in the
ears.
Cough syrups containing (3) Codeine can cause constipation if used in excess. Basically, cold medicines are
combinations of (4) Painkiller and (5) Decongestant.
B.
1. aspirin
2. acetaminopen
3. ibuprofen
4. naproxen
5. ketaprofen
Agreement:
List down at least ten (10) OTC drugs
and their respective Generic names.
