Understand This

Drugs Have Repercussions

Many North Americans are taking medicines for the long run when they’re only intended for the short run. This can have a huge impact on well-being. The January Reports on Health claims that one-third of Americans over the age of 55 take too many medications. Michael Steinman, an expert on ageing and Professor of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, says, “Some medicines are more effective and safest when you use them for a specific and limited period of time.”

A study by Brummett, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Surgery, says, “six percent of patients prescribed an opioid drug after surgery for minor procedures are still taking them six months later.” And according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, taking an opioid for longer than three months increases addiction risk 15 times. This information should be posted on the front door of every doctor’s office. Patients should stop being wimps after minor surgery and use common sense about this potent painkiller. Experts say opioids should be the last resort for chronic or minor pain, but if prescribed, it should be a low dose for a short period of time. And that doctors should suggest other pain options such as Advil, Motrin and Aleve.