| Front Page |
Mohamed H. Dahir, Chairman Pharmaceutical Association of Somaliland
Drugs and pregnancy don’t mix
A rule of thumb is to avoid all drug during pregnancy if at all possible, that includes easily ignored nonprescription agents like aspirin, it is well documented that the lowly aspirin tablet may be dangerous. Once it has dissolved in the mother’s stomach and reached her bloodstream, it quickly passes into the circulatory system of her unborn baby there, it could seriously affect the blood-clotting ability of the baby once it has been delivered. A couple of aspirins once in a great while for a headache during a pregnancy will not be a threat, but the frequent intake of this drug can be an unneeded risk.
Women should stay away from all drugs both those which can be bought over the counter and those which require a prescription unless she was absolutely positive that she was not pregnant. There are, of course, circumstances in which, for the safety of the mother and the fetus, it is essential that a woman continue taking her medication. Nevertheless, caution during pregnancy is a must. Since the first few months of pregnancy are the most serious in terms of fetal exposure, it is during this time that women must be most wary. A woman may not even realize that she is pregnant while she is taking a drug. A case in point is the use of birth control pills. Clearly, a woman who is on the pill is taking it because she does not wish to become pregnant. But mistakes are made, and even a lapse of a few days could result in an unwanted fertilization. Or, quite possibly, that one-in-a-thousand long shot happens and the pill does not do the job. In any event, it is possible for a woman to continue taking her birth control pills after she has become pregnant. In fact, some fool of a medical administrator has even suggested that a coed on the pill continue taking it for up to two months after she has missed her period. This practice could be disastrous.
Once the baby is born, its mother still can’t let down her vigilance. A nursing mother may easily pass on a drug from her milk to the newborn baby. Due to the scarcity of information about the injurious effects of sustained drug-administration on the newborn it would be wise once again to stay away from all medicines. Tetracycline, penicillin (it could increase the baby’s susceptibility to allergy later in life), arthritis medication, and birth control pills are only some of the potentially harmful pharmaceuticals to be avoided. Medical letter has gone on the record stating; "a physician who prescribes a drug for a nursing mother should consider whether the benefits to the patient outweigh a possible danger to the infant.
Are the Benefits Worth the Risk?
Drugs always exert their deleterious effects in an obvious and clearly detectable manner. In some instances, the side effects only become apparent over a long period of time and may not even be associated with the drug, which is being ingested.
Clearly it is not possible to list all the potential drug reactions or prepare patients for unpredictable dangers. What we have seen is that drug safety and effectiveness cannot be taken for granted. Adverse reactions to drugs will put you into the hospital as fast as, if not faster than, the original illness. People who are lucky enough to survive their reaction may be left with permanent disabilities. Kidney and liver damage are not infrequent. Deafness and blindness are not impossible. Serious drug reactions may leave their marks on the nervous and digestive systems, and these disabilities may last for months, for years, or forever.
Your doctor has a responsibility to make sure that you know the side effects of the drugs he prescribes and that you understand his instructions about dosage schedules and other drug interactions. The potential risk of any given drug must be weighed against its benefits, and your physician must allow you to make that decision. A physician must obtain the consent of his patient before he can render any form of treatment. Your pharmacist also has a moral obligation to inform you of the name of the drug you are taking as well as its expiration date and proper storage procedures. You have the responsibility to care for your medicine correctly and observe your body for any new or unusual reactions. Common sense and caution are important, especially when it comes to medications which you buy without a prescription. And remember that, though a drug may appear to be perfectly safe, it is impossible to predict with any kind of assurance what the long-range effects may be, especially upon an unborn child. It is time we stop insisting on a prescription or a shot. "Doctor, can’t you please give me something," is an expression that should disappear. If a drug is necessary, your doctor will prescribe it without any encouragement from you, and you should take it according to his instructions. There is evidence that under certain circumstances the benefits of some drugs might not be worth the risks. Ultimately, it is your decision, and I hope you use you’re your common sense and make it wisely.
To be continued next week
Home | Contact us | Links | Archives