Whatever a sickness strikes, running to the counter is our reliable refuge. Over-the-counter pills have made some become unprofessional medical practitioners. Self-medication is now rampant; many even go as far as telling a doctor the kind of drugs he or she needs because they feel they understand what is wrong with them or what worked before.
I'm also a victim of this. I can't forget my last encounter. This headache started at work, and my colleague recommended self-treatment. I tried all they recommended, but nothing seemed to work. I forced myself to sleep, thinking maybe I would feel better when I woke up, but nothing seemed to change. One of the workers bought paracetamol, but it failed to subside the pain I felt.
When I got home, the pain got worse. My head was banging really hard. At first, I took three tablets, hoping to feel better, but it was not working either. I was desperate for relief. I went ahead and took another extra three tablets, thinking that would help me, but I was far from that.
It wasn't up to 20 minutes after, I started feeling dizzy; everywhere was spinning in my eyes, and my stomach was in serious pain. I wished for it to stop, but it refused. I was not just feeling the headache but also the consequences of taking an overdose. I didn't know that a simple drug like Panadol could have such strong effects on me from consuming so much of it.
Since I couldn't take myself back to the clinic, I recognized the essence of having a roommate. I struggled alone with the hope that I would get better. By morning, I was looking pale and weak. I forced myself to work since the streets of Bauchi are known for the late opening of stores. When I got to my shop, my colleagues noticed how sick I looked. It was around 9 a.m. when I went to a clinic and explained to the doctor how many tablets I had consumed.
He couldn't believe I could do such a thing. I was ashamed; I could allow my lack of patience push me to take an overdose. Getting myself back from that experience was a lesson I learned the hard way. It took me a while to forget what I went through. Anytime I hear about taking drugs, I'm always interested in knowing the right dosage. I'm actually happy to have experienced that because it helped me understand that while pills can heal, they can also be harmful when misused.
While I don't joke with conventional medicine when I'm ill, I follow the dosage as prescribed and wait patiently for it to take effect. It's not just hard drugs that have effects; even the everyday drugs we use, when misused, have serious consequences. Whenever I see people taking three tablets for a two-tablet dosage, I don't fail to tell them my story. Personally, if I'm not sure of the dosage but know the function of the drug, I don't take more than two tablets.
