New Delhi. Most of our medical knowledge comes from our past experiences. The last time your doctor prescribed paracetamol, you can use it again without a prescription. Over-the-counter medicines can often be taken without a written recommendation from a doctor, but the same cannot be said for all medicines. The frequency and time duration for which the medicine is to be consumed is clearly mentioned on the prescription given by your doctor. Medical drug prescription has a validity period. Consumption of prescribed medicine outside the prescribed period can sometimes lead to negative health consequences between self-medication and non-adherence to the medicine.

Prescription refill is necessary if one is taking this type of medicine which is not available over the counter. Not all medicines can be taken as per requirement, some have a fixed duration of intake. There are many health conditions that share similar symptoms. Sometimes a single disease can turn for the better or for the worse. A doctor prescribes a medicine and may also regulate the dosage from time to time in case of a chronic condition like heart disease. Hence, it is necessary to visit your doctor if the same symptoms reappear after a time gap or you want to restart the old medicines.

When It’s No Good to Use Old Recipes
Simran Rao, a woman in her early twenties is suffering from PCOS. The condition is more than a reproductive concern and has cardiometabolic consequences as well. Rao was prescribed the drug ‘Aldactone’ by her gynecologist as a part of her treatment. The drug is often used to treat high blood pressure and heart conditions. The doctor told her to take the medicine for two months and then meet him for a new prescription. Failing to meet again after two months, Rao thought it wise to consume the medicine for a month or two before he could meet her again. She told that after three months when she went to the doctor, she had a dispute with her doctor. He had some unpleasant symptoms.

Rao shared that “I could not visit my doctor due to work constraints. I was away from my hometown and accidentally left my recipe there. It was a mistake on my part that I could not connect with her virtually and clear my doubts. Rather I thought it would be better to take the medicine for some more time until I could see him again during the holiday season. The reality dawned on me when I went to a local doctor for common flu. He warned me that I was taking the medicine for a long time. very long periods and should be checked by your gynecologist as soon as possible. By this time, I had already started noticing some unusual symptoms. My doctor scolded me for not reading the prescription carefully.

it can get tangled at any moment
Dr. Shiv Kumar, a physician at ESIC Medical College and Hospital (Bangalore), explained how the time for a medical consultation is limited. He said: “The validity of a prescription is only for the period mentioned on it. The frequency of taking the medicine and the duration for which it should be taken is always on the prescription. The same prescription cannot be used again unless your doctor has directed the pharmacist to refill the prescription.