Clipping Board » Illness Enters through Mouth ─ The information that has been made public is often just the tip of the iceberg...
2011/09/18 CNA Reporter Xia Nianci, Kaohsiung
A young man in his 20s, who didn’t see a doctor for his cold but instead drank cough syrup like water, was hospitalized due to acute kidney failure caused by excessive consumption. The Department of Pharmacy at Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital stated that cough syrup is medicine, not a beverage, and overuse can harm health.
Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital reported that a healthy man in his 20s with no chronic illnesses was rushed to the hospital for emergency dialysis due to acute kidney failure. Upon further questioning, doctors discovered he often worked overtime and was too busy to see a doctor for his cold, frequently drinking cough syrup as if it were water—nearly costing him his life.
Hou Jilian, a pharmacist at the hospital, explained that people sometimes avoid visiting the doctor for a cold and instead buy cold medicine or cough syrup from pharmacies. Generally, patients are less likely to overdose on capsules or tablets, but the sweet taste of syrup can lead to excessive consumption—some drink an entire bottle at once, while others take it three times a day and before bed.
Hou emphasized that adults should limit their intake of cough syrup to about 10 milliliters per dose. Overuse can not only lead to addiction but also cause liver and kidney damage. She advised consulting a pharmacist before purchasing to understand the medication’s indications and proper dosage, preventing misuse or overdose.
Clinical observations by the hospital’s pharmacy department revealed that, aside from narcotics and sleeping pills, many Taiwanese misuse medications such as painkillers, cough syrup, steroids, and herbal remedies. Cough syrup, in particular, is easily accessible and lacks the bitter taste of medicine, making users less cautious.
Hou noted that some people hesitate to take prescribed medications due to listed side effects, unaware that drugs without proper usage instructions are even more dangerous. Without caution, overdosing becomes more likely, posing greater health risks. She urged the public to avoid purchasing unverified or poorly labeled medications.
Source: http://tw.news.yahoo.com/article/url/d/a/110918/5/2yxce.html
Man Rushed to Dialysis after Drinking Cold Syrup Like Water
A young man in his 20s, who didn’t see a doctor for his cold but instead drank cough syrup like water, was hospitalized due to acute kidney failure caused by excessive consumption. The Department of Pharmacy at Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital stated that cough syrup is medicine, not a beverage, and overuse can harm health.
Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital reported that a healthy man in his 20s with no chronic illnesses was rushed to the hospital for emergency dialysis due to acute kidney failure. Upon further questioning, doctors discovered he often worked overtime and was too busy to see a doctor for his cold, frequently drinking cough syrup as if it were water—nearly costing him his life.
Hou Jilian, a pharmacist at the hospital, explained that people sometimes avoid visiting the doctor for a cold and instead buy cold medicine or cough syrup from pharmacies. Generally, patients are less likely to overdose on capsules or tablets, but the sweet taste of syrup can lead to excessive consumption—some drink an entire bottle at once, while others take it three times a day and before bed.
Hou emphasized that adults should limit their intake of cough syrup to about 10 milliliters per dose. Overuse can not only lead to addiction but also cause liver and kidney damage. She advised consulting a pharmacist before purchasing to understand the medication’s indications and proper dosage, preventing misuse or overdose.
Clinical observations by the hospital’s pharmacy department revealed that, aside from narcotics and sleeping pills, many Taiwanese misuse medications such as painkillers, cough syrup, steroids, and herbal remedies. Cough syrup, in particular, is easily accessible and lacks the bitter taste of medicine, making users less cautious.
Hou noted that some people hesitate to take prescribed medications due to listed side effects, unaware that drugs without proper usage instructions are even more dangerous. Without caution, overdosing becomes more likely, posing greater health risks. She urged the public to avoid purchasing unverified or poorly labeled medications.
Source: http://tw.news.yahoo.com/article/url/d/a/110918/5/2yxce.html