After my 12th standard, I started putting on a lot of weight. When I joined the university for my graduation, my friends and classmates started commenting on my weight following which I started taking weight reduction pills.
Initially, I saw the result. I lost weight, looked slim and felt happy about myself but after a year, I saw the cascading effect on my health. I started putting on weight.
It got worse and I had to shift to another city to get myself operated and recover from the trauma," narrated Sindhuja Suresh, a student who used lifestyle drugs without prescription.
Doctors in the city opine that consuming such drugs can pose a serious threat to health and can also be life threatening. According to a survey conducted by WHO, counterfeit drugs are easily available across the counters today. These counterfeit medicines can have a rebound effect, where there is a greater possibility of the symptoms recurring.
Self medication is nothing but putting oneself in a dangerous situation. Dr Preeti Singh, a neurologist practising in a multi speciality hospital says, "Sometimes the drugs are made out of the abnormal combinations of heavy metals like iron, magnesium, chromium, zinc and others.
Consuming such drugs poses threat to ones' lifestyle.
" Quoting an instance, she added, "A patient was prescribed Vitamin B capsules once a week. But the patient started consuming the medicines everyday, which led her to be hospitalised as she went into coma."
On the other hand, there are many lifestyle products available in spas and beauty saloons like the magnetic belt to reduce weight and also face packs for a glowing skin. Today, the trend is such that the drugs can, over time, switch from 'lifestyle' to 'mainstream' use. But such is a disturbing trend says city-based doctors. There are many discoveries in the field of cosmetology which modifies one's lifestyle and boosts confidence.
But consuming such drugs will have an effect on the other organs of the body like lungs and kidneys," said Dr Balaji P A, associate professor in a private medical college. The survey conducted by WHO also states that the counterfeit versions of drugs are also being sold to consumers online which is a shocking development.
"There are many such instances which we have come across," says Dr Balaji. He added, "The products that are available online, are not the products that are received by the consumers.
Many companies of the counterfeit versions of drugs lay importance on marketing their product, as there is no governing body.
" However, many doctors opine that it is a very disturbing trend in the society.And awareness about the same needs to be spread.