Fidson

Medicine Use and Safety

At Fidson, we aim to continuously ensure the safe and effective use of medicines as part of our responsibility as a wholly indigenous pharmaceutical company.

We employ a multifaceted approach to develop quality medications and collaborate with regulatory bodies and health and safety specialists to understand the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, therapeutics and adverse effects of drugs.

All information on our product pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, therapeutics and adverse effects are available in product inserts. Ensure you read the product packaging and insert(s) before using medicines.

Please consult your physician or pharmacist immediately if you have difficulty understanding the information provided.

Alternatively, you can reach Fidson’s customer care representatives at 08077008888 or email us at .customer@fidson.com

Medicine Safety Education

It is important to note that ‘YOU’ play a major role when it comes to ensuring your own safety while taking any medicines. Discussing with health professionals such as doctor, pharmacists helps give them insight on what to prescribe and they in turn can guide you on how to take prescribed medicines appropriately.

STEPS TO TAKE

  • Understand your own e.g. how you feel after taking a drug; known allergies and how you feel about coming to the hospital.
  • Share your medical history with your doctor or pharmacist, if you abused drugs or alcohol in the past or if you have any medical condition.
  • Let the doctor know if you have or have had any adverse reaction to any drug
  • Discuss any physical disability with your doctor, no matter how uncomfortable it be.
  • Observe results after taking a particular medicine and let your doctor know.

Optimising Benefits and Risks

Medicines have their benefits and risks; in as much as you can benefit from them you need to learn how to mitigate or avoid adverse reactions.

STEPS TO TAKE

  • Be very observant to any slight changes that occur to you physically and emotionally
  • Communicate your observations (good or bad) to your doctor
  • If you notice any adverse reaction, seek the advice of a health professional immediately

Safety Use of Timeline

Fidson has an ethical and regulatory obligation to monitor the safety of medicines produced and sold throughout the lifetime of the medicine. In addition to stipulated guidelines set out by health and safety specialists and regulatory bodies, Fidson periodically conducts Post Marketing Surveillance (PMS) to ensure that products available for sale are suitable for use by the consumer.

Pharmaceutical products have batch details – manufacturing date, expiry date and batch numbers indicated on the product packaging – inner and outer.

Please carefully read the information related to batch details carefully prior to using any medicines. Refer to ‘the medicine use and safety page’ for more details.

Self Medication

Self-medication is the use of medicines without proper professional advice from your doctor or pharmacist. This has become common practice amongst people around the world, which has caused more harm than good.

The disadvantages of self-medication include:

  • Incorrect self-diagnosis
  • Delay in seeking appropriate medical advice when needed
  • Infrequent but severe adverse reactions
  • Dangerous drug interactions
  • Incorrect manner of administration
  • Incorrect dosage
  • Incorrect choice of therapy
  • Masking of a severe disease
  • Risk of dependence and abuse
  • Antimicrobial resistance – World Health Organisation defines antimicrobial resistance as the ability of a microorganism (such as a bacterium, fungus, virus or parasite) to resist the effect of medication previously used to treat an infection caused by that organism. When people use antimicrobial drugs at low doses and inappropriately it could make the microorganism develop resistance to the effect of the drugs. Counterfeit medicine also contributes to the problem of antibiotic resistance due to insufficient quantities of active ingredient in the medicine.

PREVENTION OF SELF MEDICATION

  • Consult a doctor before taking any medication
  • Always go for medical check-up so as to know your health status
  • If you’ve become addicted to self-medication, seek help through your doctor

Adherence to Dosage

Adherence means taking your drugs exactly as recommended on product packaging or as prescribed by your doctor. This includes taking the appropriate dose of medicine at the right time and adhering to special diet restrictions.

HOW TO ADHERE TO DOSAGE

  • Listen carefully to instruction given by your doctor or pharmacist
  • Always carefully read instructions on medicine pack or prescriptions provided by your pharmacist
  • If you notice any adverse reaction, discuss with your doctor immediately
  • Set reminders for the time to take your medicines
Reporting Adverse Events

To report an adverse effect observed, please speak with your doctor or pharmacist. It is important to get the contact details of your doctor or pharmacist.

Alternatively, you can reach our customer care associates by telephone on 08077008888. To learn more visit our medicine use and safety page

Disposal of Medicines
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Unused/Expired Drugs
  1. All drugs should be kept in a cool environment and away from the reach of children
  2. If expired, dispose immediately
  3. For used drugs, dispose empty packaging immediately
  4. If disposing with household trash, do the following:
    1. Mix medicines (do not crush tablets or capsules) with an unpalatable substance such as dirt, kitty litter, or used coffee grounds
    2. Place the mixture in a container such as a sealed plastic bag
    3. Throw the container in your household trash
    4. Scratch out all personal information on the prescription label of your empty pill bottle or empty medicine packaging to make it unreadable, then dispose of the container.

EYE DROPS

Eye drops should to be discarded after 28 days of opening. This is because they have preservatives in them that ensure the eye drops are safe for a period of 28days after opening. If eye drops are used after they have been opened for a period of 28days, it could cause damage to the eye.

HOW TO DISCARD EYEDROPS

  1. Always record the date eye drops are opened and do not use them after 28 days
  2. Some eye drops now have longer expiry dates after opening – always check the packaging.
  3. Expired eye drops should be poured or squeezed out of the container – preferably in a sink or toilet, then dispose empty container in trash.

VACCINES

  1. If there is provision for burning, used vaccines can be burned
  2. Equipment used for vaccination, including used vials, ampoules or syringes should be disposed of by placing it in a proper, puncture-resistant ‘sharps’ box according to local authority regulations.