National Safe Medication Use Month | Are you really doing the right thing when stockpiling home medicines during the epidemic?

With the adjustment of epidemic prevention and control policies, "hoarding medicine" has become a hot search term recently. There are long queues at the windows of hospital pharmacies and community pharmacies. People are carrying large and small bags of medicines, including antiviral, cough suppressant, and antipyretic medicines, fearing that they are not enough; some people even made a list of more than a dozen medicines to buy. When people meet and greet each other, they always ask: "Have you stocked up on medicines?"

So, is it necessary to stock up on medicines now? If so, what should we stock up on? And how should we use these medicines correctly after we buy them home?

Drug reserve list, starting with "5+1+X" Whether it is the new coronavirus infection or the common cold (including common cold and influenza) that is prevalent in winter, most of them are caused by viral infection. The virus mainly invades the upper respiratory tract, and clinically it often manifests as fever, headache, muscle aches, cough, sore throat and other symptoms. In addition, it may be accompanied by difficulty in expectoration, sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion, etc. Therefore, it is appropriate to reserve some symptomatic treatment drugs. "5"-Five symptomatic treatment drugs: mainly including antipyretics, cough suppressants, expectorants, antiallergic drugs, and sore throat relief drugs.

Antipyretics

Generally, medication should be started when the fever exceeds 38.5℃, with ibuprofen and acetaminophen being the first choice. Children can choose the corresponding suspension dosage form. Patients with high fever that does not subside for 3 consecutive days should seek medical attention in a timely manner.

Cough medicine

If the symptom is mainly dry cough, with no or little sputum, and it affects rest and sleep, dextromethorphan can be chosen, and children can choose its oral solution or syrup.

Expectorants

Suitable for people with thick sputum that is difficult to cough up, such as acetylcysteine ​​(effervescent tablets or granules, etc.) and ambroxol tablets or oral solution.

Allergy medicine

Used to relieve symptoms such as sneezing and runny nose, such as cetirizine, loratadine and chlorpheniramine.

Throat pain relief medicine

Such as Qingyan Drops, etc.

In addition, regarding the selection of Chinese patent medicines, on December 8, 2022, the State Council’s Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism issued the "Guidelines for Home Treatment of Patients Infected with New Coronavirus". The document mentioned that Jinhua Qinggan Granules, Lianhua Qingwen Granules/Capsules, Xuanfei Baidu Granules, Qingfei Paidu Granules, and Sufeng Jiedu Granules can be chosen.

"1" - Antibacterial drugs: The pathogens of acute upper respiratory tract infection are mainly viruses, and the course of the disease is mostly self-limiting. Generally, antibacterial drugs are not required. A few may develop secondary bacterial infections on the basis of viral infections. When symptoms include coughing up thick sputum or runny nose, and elevated white blood cell counts in routine blood tests, it may be a bacterial infection, and antibacterial drugs should be considered. However, this type of drug is a prescription drug, which must be purchased after diagnosis and prescription by a doctor, and used under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.

“X” - Drugs for chronic disease treatment: Chronic disease patients can reserve drugs according to their disease needs, and a maximum of 3 months’ supply can be prescribed.

Please look for these "anti-counterfeiting marks" when buying medicines on your own

Medicines are divided into prescription drugs and over-the-counter drugs. Prescription drugs can only be purchased after a doctor's diagnosis and prescription. As for over-the-counter drugs, the public can buy them at pharmacies or through regular online channels. However, before purchasing, please look for the following "anti-counterfeiting marks" to avoid falling into traps and buying fake drugs.

1

Over-the-counter drugs come in red and green colors

Over-the-counter drugs are marked with the three letters "OTC", usually located in the upper right corner of the medicine box. According to their safety, they are divided into Class A and Class B. Class A has white letters on a red background, while Class B has white letters on a green background. Class A drugs can only be purchased in social pharmacies or medical institution pharmacies that have a "Drug Business License" and are equipped with practicing pharmacists or pharmacy professionals above pharmacists; Class B drugs are safer than Class A drugs, and in addition to pharmacies and medical institution pharmacies, they can also be sold in approved general commercial enterprises.

2

Please look for the "National Medicine Approval"

Regular drugs have their own "identity card", which is the drug approval number (starting with "国药准" and usually located next to the word "OTC"). If it says "国食健" or "卫食健", it is a health product. Health products are not drugs and do not have any medicinal effects. If it says "卫药健", it must be a fake drug (this approval number has been abolished by the state).

3

Learn the "Four Things to Look For" When Using Drugs

Viral infection: Early application of antiviral drugs may be effective, which can control symptoms and shorten the course of the disease. Commonly used antiviral drugs include oral oseltamivir, intravenous acyclovir, ganciclovir, etc. If combined with bacterial infection, combined antibacterial drugs are needed.

Bacterial infection: Bacterial pneumonia requires standardized medication under the diagnosis and advice of professional doctors. Professional doctors will select appropriate antibacterial drugs based on the patient's clinical symptoms, the site of onset, and the results of blood tests and sputum bacterial culture. Do not choose medication at will, and do not stop taking medication at will.

Mycoplasma or Chlamydia infection: The clinically recommended antimicrobial drugs mainly include azithromycin, doxycycline, minocycline, levofloxacin and moxifloxacin. After standardized drug treatment, mycoplasma pneumonia generally has a good prognosis and a low mortality rate.

First, look at the drug ingredients: many drugs have similar or identical ingredients, such as the antiviral Chinese patent medicines Jinhua Qinggan Granules and Lianhua Qingwen Granules, both of which contain forsythia and honeysuckle; many compound cold medicines contain acetaminophen, such as Ganmaoling Granules and Ankahuangmin Capsules. It is recommended to choose only one drug of the same type to stock up, and avoid repeated use to avoid increasing drug side effects.

Second, look at the usage and dosage: When using over-the-counter drugs, you must strictly follow the instructions and pay attention to the applicable population. For children, you should choose an appropriate dosage form; the elderly and people with impaired liver and kidney function need to reduce the dosage as appropriate. If you have any questions, consult a doctor or pharmacist in advance.

Third, look at adverse reactions: Be familiar with the common adverse reactions of the drugs you use. If gastrointestinal discomfort, rash, etc. occur during medication, you should learn to identify them. Consider that they may be caused by the drugs. Please stop the medication in time and observe. If the condition is serious, seek medical treatment as soon as possible.

Fourth, check the storage conditions: Drugs must be stored in accordance with the prescribed storage conditions, avoiding high temperature, high humidity, and strong light environments. Check the expiration date of the drug regularly, and do not use it after the expiration date.

Medicines have expiration dates. When stockpiling at home, families should purchase them rationally based on needs and not blindly "hoard". If in doubt, consult a doctor or pharmacist.