Medication can be poison in the wrong hands.

Source: Medipost Pharmacy

Medication is intended to heal, but it can be dangerous if misused, used incorrectly or accidentally ingested by curious children. A pharmacist from South Africa’s first national courier pharmacy shares an important safety message to help prevent accidental overdose.

“Accidental ingestion of medication remains a leading cause of paediatric emergency room visits, and anyone who uses medication must take responsibility for keeping it safely out of harm’s way to prevent potential tragedies,” says pharmacist Cathy Jacobs of Medipost Pharmacy.

Poisoning is among the top five causes of childhood injuries worldwide, and a local study (Balme and Stephen, 2022), published in the African Journal of Emergency Medicine) records that accidental ingestion of medication accounted for 38% of children being treated for poisoning over a 10 year period at one South African hospital.

“All medications, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, should be stored ‘up and away’ in a place that is out of children’s reach, preferably in a locked container or cupboard. This is especially important for parents, caregivers, and any households that children may visit,” she says.

“Anyone using daily pill organisers, as many parents and grandparents do to keep track of their chronic medication, should be sure to keep them somewhere secure rather than on a bedside table or in a handbag that could be easily accessible to children or pets.”

The principles of medication safety aim to ensure that the correct dose is administered to the correct patient at the scheduled time, via the correct route and for the correct duration. However, medication can become poisonous if taken by the wrong person, or at the incorrect dosage or timing, especially when it comes to children’s smaller bodies.

“Often, child and adult doses vary, and sometimes parents need to administer doses of their children’s medication according to the child’s weight. When giving medication to children, parents or caregivers need to be careful not to exceed the recommended doses and to administer medication correctly as per the instructions on the medicine label issued by the pharmacist. Otherwise, medication can do more harm than good,” Jacobs says.

Pharmacy teams are ideally positioned to support families with advice to ensure medication safety.

Telephone pharmacy support is available in all official languages for anyone receiving medication through Medipost Pharmacy. To register for medication delivery through South Africa’s longest serving national courier pharmacy, WhatsApp Medipost on 012 426 4655.

“Make sure you understand everything your doctor or pharmacist tells you about how to give your child their medication, and feel free to ask as many questions as you need to. It is very helpful to speak to a pharmacy professional in your home language to get the most out of these interactions,” she says.

Medication safety checklist

• Ask the right questions: Your pharmacy team and doctor can provide clarity on the dosage and timing of medication, including whether it must be taken with or without food, and advise you about potential interactions with other medications or how to manage any side effects that may arise.

• Always read the prescription label and patient information leaflet first: Even with familiar medications, labels and leaflets provide critical warnings on food interactions, drowsiness or updated dosage instructions. Check and double-check that you have the correct medication, and understand the dosage and timing.

• Disclose other medications that you are taking: Make a list of all the medications you are taking and their dosages, including any over-the-counter medication or supplements, and share this with your healthcare provider. Parents should do the same for their children’s medications.

• Store medication ‘up and away’: Keep medications out of reach, and preferably locked up, away from children and anyone who may be at risk of accidental overdose, such as loved ones with advanced dementia, as well as pets to avoid accidental poisoning.

• Medication should be stored in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight to protect its effectiveness. Certain medications require refrigeration, read and follow the cold chain instructions provided in the packaging.

• Never share medication: Never take medication prescribed for someone else, even if the symptoms seem identical. Prescriptions are tailored to individual biological factors, including weight, renal function and medical history.

• Complete the course: For treatments such as antibiotics, it is vital to take the full course of medication as directed, even if you start feeling better. Stopping treatment early allows surviving bacteria to grow back stronger, contributing to the global crisis of antimicrobial resistance.

• Keep on track with chronic medications: For long-term medications, such as those for diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic conditions, ensure that you never run out of your supply to maintain uninterrupted treatment.

• Dispose of medication responsibly: Never throw away unused or expired medication with household rubbish, as pharmaceutical compounds can harm ecosystems and, over time, reduce the effectiveness of lifesaving medicines. Speak to your pharmacist about safe medication disposal.

“Medication is essential for health and managing chronic conditions; however, its efficacy and safety depend entirely on how it is handled. Everyone has a role in ensuring that the therapeutic benefits of medication outweigh the risks, and it starts with awareness of medication safety,” Jacobs concludes.

As flu season sweeps across South Africa, healthcare professionals are urging patients to understand why antibiotics are not always the answer.

Source: Unu Health

You have a sore throat.

You're coughing.

Your nose is blocked.

You feel exhausted.

After waiting to see a doctor, many patients leave disappointed when they discover they are not receiving the one thing they expected: an antibiotic prescription. Yet according to healthcare professionals, that decision is often one of the most important ways doctors can protect both individual patients and public health.

With winter illnesses spreading across South Africa, doctors are once again highlighting the dangers of unnecessary antibiotic use and the growing threat of antibiotic resistance. According to the World Health Organization, antimicrobial resistance is among the top global public health threats facing humanity. Antibiotic-resistant infections were directly responsible for an estimated 1.27 million deaths worldwide in 2019 and contributed to nearly five million deaths overall. According to the latest data in South Africa in 2021, 8485 deaths were directly attributed to antibiotic resistance.

"The misconception that antibiotics can treat every winter illness remains incredibly common," says Lance Blumeris, Head of digital healthcare platform, Unu Health. "The reality is that many of the illnesses people experience during flu season are caused by viruses. Antibiotics are designed to treat bacterial infections and simply do not work against viruses."

Healthcare professionals working on the Unu Health platform say many patients expect antibiotics for common colds, flu and other viral infections despite medical evidence showing that antibiotics offer little benefit in these situations. Doctors explain that prescribing antibiotics when they are not needed can contribute to antibiotic resistance, a process whereby bacteria evolve and become harder to treat with existing medicines. This means that infections that were once easily treatable could eventually become more difficult, more expensive and, in some cases, potentially life-threatening.

But if antibiotics are not the answer, what should patients do?

For many viral illnesses, the body's immune system is capable of fighting off the infection naturally with time and supportive care. Rest, adequate sleep, good nutrition, staying hydrated and following medical advice can often be the most effective way to support recovery.

"Patients sometimes feel disappointed when they leave a consultation without a prescription," says Blumeris. "But in many cases, the best treatment is allowing the body the time and support it needs to recover naturally. Rest, fluids and good self-care are often exactly what the body requires."

Doctors also warn against using leftover antibiotics from previous illnesses or taking medication recommended by friends or family members.

Each infection should be assessed individually by a healthcare professional who can determine whether antibiotics are necessary.

In addition to contributing to resistance, unnecessary antibiotic use can also disrupt the body's natural gut bacteria, potentially leading to digestive side effects and other health complications.

"Choosing not to prescribe antibiotics is not about withholding treatment," says Blumeris. "It is about ensuring patients receive the most appropriate treatment for their specific condition while protecting the effectiveness of these vital medicines for future generations."

For more information, please visit www.unuhealth.org