Interview with Pharmacology Deptt Head

Q: Good morning Professor Mir Misbahuddin. Thank you for inviting Stethoscope to visit your department.

Professor : Thank you very much. Media can play a significant role in behaviour change communication in relation to medicine and proper use of them.

Q: Professor Misbah, the next issue of Stethoscope deals with reactions to medications. Our readers would like to hear about it from your.

Professor: Reactions to medicine are varied. There are both good and bad reactions. However, good reaction means medicine is correct, taken appropriately and has not produced any side effects or anaphylactic shock or allergy etc. On the other hand bad or unwanted and unwarranted reactions also occur with medications which are usually referred as 'reactions'. Such reactions include side effects, adverse effects, hypersensitivity and anaphylactic shock.

Q: Why and how such reactions take place.

Professor: Well, modern medicines are mostly chemically and synthetically formulated. These chemicals are to be introduced in the body in proper doses, divided, basing on their half life, excretion etc. Now it can be said that these medicines, sometimes, may not be compatible with the chemistry of the body and there are side effects or reactions. Again actions of medicine depend on dosing. It may so happen that normal doses of medication can give rise to side effects.

Q: How we can classify side effects?

Professor: Side effects, in general, are of two types :

(i) Side effects not requiring physicians’ attention

(ii) Side effects requiring physicians’ attention.

Q : Sir, would you please tell us something about anaphylactic shock?

Professor: Anaphylactic shock is an antibody-antigen reaction in the body which may produce a state of profound collapse. This is characterised by increased difficulty in breathing and failure of the circulation brought about by general dilation of the small blood vessels and the escape of plasma (the fluid component of the blood) into the tissue space. Anaphylactic shock may be caused by the injection of certain vaccines, antisera or antibiotics. It is interesting to note here that in the hospitals almost one third of medications for inpatients comprise of injectibles. These injectibles and IV solutions cause 30% adverse effects, anaphylactic shocks and allergies. These side effects are often caused by the preservatives and additives in the injectibles. Sometimes the IV fluids get unsterile or may contain fungus, bacterium etc. brought in during manufacturing process or handling during storage and delivery.

Q: Professor, you were saying something about doses. Would you kindly elaborate?

Professor: Yes, doses are very important for combating side effects. You see modern medicines are mostly prepared (formulated) as per American and European Pharmacopia. These productions prescribe bigger and stronger doses suiting the Americans and Europeans. These doses are not very suitable for our people. As such we should decide doses according to our patients ability, physical and physiological, to assimilate the medication. Our people luck metabolism and proper quantity of enzyme to absorb larger and stronger doses.

Q: Sir, how we can mitigate reactions to drug or medication?

Professor: We require increasing health education. Doctors should also be more conscious.

The practice of drug dispensing in the hospitals by Deptt. of hospital pharmacy should be introduced. Manufacturing firms producing patient drug should attach information leaflets with every drug.

These leaflets should be precise and tell the consumers in simple language about the drug (not necessarily the formula or process of manufacturing etc.), its usual dosing, indications in general and side effects, contra indication and incompatibility with other drugs.

Q: Thank you Professor Mir Misbahuddin. We have benefited much from this very fruitful interaction.

Professor: It is a pleasure for me also. I feel happy to interact with media. You are always welcome.

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Topics:

• Drugs and Medicines