Americans are an independent lot. They don't like being told what to do. And that holds true in politics, religion, business and — sadly — medicine. Many citizens are responsible when it comes to self-medication. They recognize the boundaries and know when it's time to get professional help. But in defiance of doctors and common sense, others take it upon themselves to decide when and how much medicine to down — especially when acute pain or mental illness is involved.
Sometimes that "medicine" comes in the form of liquor or banned substances. Sometimes it comes from a prescription bottle. Irresponsible "self-medication" has been a problem for years, but now it is blossoming into a true concern — as recent studies involving Tylenol show.
Accidental poisonings from taking too many Tylenol tablets is causing liver failure in Americans. When used correctly — as the directions explain — Tylenol is one of the best weapons against pain. Some 100,000 consumers ingest it. But just doubling the prescribed dosage can be enough to kill. And many victims are blindsided by the side effects. The active ingredient in Tylenol —acetaminophen — was tied to 28 percent of liver failures in 1998, but tied to 51 percent of them in 2003.
The thinking of many souls is "if the doctor says two pills will help, then four pills will really help."
They might just help you into the grave.
On its Web page, the World Self-Medication Industry acknowledges the risks of self-treatment and draws a sharp distinction between over-the-counter medicines and prescription drugs. But even over-the-counter treatments are often abused.
"The challenge and opportunity for governments, health care professionals and providers of self-medication products, then, is to have a responsible framework in place for self-medication," the World Self-Medication Industry urges.
We feel that "framework" is, for the most part, already in place. It is known as "the instructions on the label." Just because a supermarket can sell pills without a doctor's consent doesn't mean the risks are low. Sometimes, just "cheating" a little on the dosage can trigger a tragedy, as many Americans — young and old — have learned from the latest Tylenol studies.
We urge people to see a physician for acute pain and mental problems.
For other minor ailments, read the label on the bottle.
If you don't, by being stubborn about such things you may well wake up dead.