Prescription

Drugs
What are
Prescription
Drugs?

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A prescription drug or
prescription medicine is a
pharmaceutical drug that
legally requires a medical
prescription from a
healthcare professional or
a doctor to be hand out to
a person for use. 2
Prescription Drugs
• Prescription drugs are
designed to be provided by

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doctors because they have
been determined unsafe for
consumers to take on an
unsupervised basis.

• If you’re taking prescription

medications without the
assistance of your doctor, or
you’re taking your
prescription medication in 3
ways your doctor never
intended, you are abusing
• To purchase a
prescription drug, the
most important
requirement is that you
have a real prescription

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to give to the pharmacy.

• The pharmacy must

require your doctor's
signature on a
prescription in order for
them to give the
medication that you
need.
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“Rx” is a symbol for
medical prescription, it
usually stands for the
Latin word “recipe”

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meaning to “to take”.
It is customarily part of
the superscription
(heading) of a prescription
given by a healthcare
professional.

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The most prescribed
medications by numerous
drugstores around the

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Philippines:

1. Antibiotics
2. Metformin (Diabetes
Medicine)
3. Albuterol (inhalers)
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Antibiotics
Some prescribed antibiotics were :

• Azithromycin

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It is an antibiotic used for the treatment of a number of bacterial
infections. This includes middle ear infections, strep throat,
pneumonia, traveler's diarrhea, and certain other intestinal
infection.

• Amoxicillin
It is an antibiotic used to treat a number of bacterial infections.
These include middle ear infection, strep throat, pneumonia, skin
infections, and urinary tract infections among others. It is taken by
mouth, or less commonly by injection. Common adverse effects 7

include nausea and rash.

• Ciprofloxacin
Ciprofloxacin is an antibiotic used to treat a number of bacterial
infections. This includes bone and joint infections, intra abdominal
infections, certain type of infectious diarrhea, respiratory tract
infections, skin infections, typhoid fever, and urinary tract
infections, among others.

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The most Prescribed Antibiotic Classes were:
• Penicillins • Macrolides
• Tetracyclines • Sulfonamide
• Cephalospori s
ns • Glycopeptide
• Quinolones s
• Lincomycins • Aminoglycosi
des 8

• Carbapenem
WHY DO
WE NEED

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PRESCRIPT
ION FROM
A DOCTOR
FOR 9
 A better health outcome is the most
significant benefit of using medication
correctly as prescribed. Doctors prescribe
medications to treat your symptoms and
to help you manage or overcome certain
health conditions.

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Failing to use medicines as prescribed
can result in worsened health, longer
recovery, unwanted side effects,
substance use disorders, death, and other
serious health conditions that require
intensive treatment.

10
 Though besides from
Prescription drugs,
there are also drugs
available without

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prescription. This are
Over the counter
(OTC) drugs, they are
medications available
without a prescription
at drugstores or
supermarkets. 11
 As a society, we rely on medications to treat
medical conditions, relieve pain, or to stabilize
our moods. We trust the federal Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) to make sure that our

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medicine is safe and effective, but it is also
imperative that we each do our own research
based on our individual needs and
circumstances. As many as half of all FDA-
approved drugs end up being withdrawn or
relabeled with black box warnings due to
unanticipated side effects, despite clinical
trials showing they were completely safe for 12

use.
Misuse of
Prescription
Drugs

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Even with prescription
from a doctor, some people
still use prescription drugs
improperly like abusing
drugs.

13
Prescription Drugs can be
Addictive
Prescription drugs that effect
the brain, including opioid pain
relievers, stimulants, and

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depressants, can cause physical
dependence that could lead to
addiction. Medications that affect
the brain can change the way it
works—especially when they are
taken over a period of time or with
increasing doses. This
dependence on the drug happens
because the brain and body adapt 14

to having drugs in the system for

Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of prescription drug abuse depend on the
specific drug. Because of their mind-altering properties, the
most commonly abused prescription drugs are:

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Opioids used to treat pain, for example medications containing
oxycodone — such as Oxycontin and Percocet — and those
containing hydrocodone — such as Norco
Anti-anxiety medications and sedatives, such as
alprazolam (Xanax) and diazepam (Valium),
and hypnotics, such as zolpidem (Ambien), used to treat
anxiety and sleep disorders
Stimulants, such as methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta,
others), dextroamphetamine and amphetamine (Adderall XR, 15

Mydayis), and dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine), used to treat

Signs and symptoms of prescription drug abuse
Opioids Anti-anxiety medications Stimulants
and sedatives
•Constipation •Drowsiness •Increased alertness
•Nausea •Confusion •Feeling high
•Feeling high (euphoria) •Unsteady walking •Irregular heartbeat

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•Slowed breathing rate •Slurred speech •High blood pressure
•Drowsiness •Poor concentration •High body temperature
•Confusion •Dizziness •Reduced appetite
•Poor coordination •Problems with memory •Insomnia
•Increased dose required •Slowed breathing •Agitation
for pain relief •Anxiety
•Worsening or increased •Paranoia
sensitivity to pain with
higher doses
(hyperalgesia)

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Causes
Teens and adults abuse prescription drugs for many reasons,
such as:

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To feel good or get high
To relax or relieve tension
To reduce appetite or increase alertness
To experiment with the mental effects of the substance
To maintain an addiction and prevent withdrawal
To be accepted by peers or to be social
To try to improve concentration and academic or work 17

performance
Risk factors
Some people fear that they may become addicted to medications
prescribed for medical conditions, such as painkillers prescribed after
surgery. But you can reduce your risk by carefully following your
doctor's instructions on how to take your medication.

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Prescription drug abuse can happen at any age, but commonly begins
in teens or young adults.
Risk factors for prescription drug abuse include:
Past or present addictions to other substances, including alcohol and
tobacco
Family history of substance abuse problems
Certain pre-existing psychiatric conditions
Exposure to peer pressure or a social environment where there's drug
use 18

Easier access to prescription drugs, such as having prescription

Medical consequences
Here are examples of serious consequences of prescription
drug abuse:
Opioids can cause low blood pressure, a slowed breathing

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rate and potential for breathing to stop, or a coma. Overdose
has a significant risk of death.
Anti-anxiety medications and sedatives can cause
memory problems, low blood pressure and slowed breathing.
Overdose can cause coma or death. Abruptly stopping the
medication may cause withdrawal symptoms that can include
nervous system hyperactivity and seizures.
Stimulants can cause dangerously high body temperature, 19

heart problems, high blood pressure, seizures or tremors,

Prevention
Prescription drug abuse may occur in people who need
painkillers, sedatives or stimulants to treat a medical condition.
If you're taking a commonly abused drug, here are ways to
reduce your risk:
Make sure you're getting the right medication. Make sure

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your doctor clearly understands your condition and the signs and
symptoms. Tell your doctor about all your prescriptions, as well
as over-the-counter medications, herbs and supplements, and
alcohol and other drug use. Ask your doctor whether there's an
alternative medication with ingredients that have less potential
for addiction.
Check in with your doctor. Talk with your doctor on a regular
basis to make sure that the medication you're taking is working
and you're taking the right dose. 20

Follow directions carefully. Use your medication the way it