"The dose temazepam is too high for this patient. The recommended dose is 20mg daily, but this patient takes 40mg instead. We will recommend dose reduction and possibly treat the underlying cause of insomnia" said my groupmate, as we presenting a case study to the whole class.
"Anyone would like to add anything?" the tutor said.
I stood up and said "This patient is reported to consume a large amount of beer that might lead to sleep disturbance. To solve this problem, we suggest that he stop drinking."
The tutor gave me a "look" as if she did not get what i said, thus she pointed at me and my other muslim mate saying "Come out here you two"
We came forward not knowing why.
"Have you ever seen in your culture anyone who is drunk", said the tutor.
"No", we replied.
"Has any of your family member ever drink in their entire life?", she added.
"No",we replied shortly.
"So just because you dont see it in your culture, does it mean that you can simply suggest a person to stop drinking?", she interrogated us.
"No", we replied dumbfoundedly, feeling vindicated.
"That's all, now go sit down", she said.
We went back to our seat with thoughts running through my head. How could we not suggest someone to stop drinking? whereas we can suggest them to stop smoking? I can name hundreds of smoking cessation products out there to assist a person to quit smoking, suprise2...there is even a quitline!!
But why cant drinking? Why? Alcohol is known to cause so much health hazard. even worse than smoking, and my dear tutor, why cant we SUGGEST a person to stop drinking???
Pharmaceutically speaking, I think it is relevant to not only suggest, but also force a patient to STOP drinking entirely. Being a CYP 450 inducer, alcohol could cause a number of medication therapeutic failures(1). Also it enhances the effect of some medication in the CNS, resulting in sedation. Consequently, we need to consider adjusting drugs doses, avoiding some particular drugs, perform unnecessary life-long monitorings which could cost a fortune to the health sector. Obviously the risks of drinking outweigh the benefits. What happened to "always consider the risk/benefit?".
Besides, drinking has been the main cause of fatal crash, yet they are stil compromising it. Apart from that, alcohol also has evidently caused domestic violence where women and chilren are terribly abused. And because of alcohol too, many women have experienced unwanted pregnancies due to unprotected sex. No wonder abortion rates are reported very high in western countries and also NZ. And it's still not the drinking huh?? So pathetic when they come up with following phrase:
"It's not the drinking, it's how much you drink".
I am sorry if anyone found this post offensive. As a pharmacist-to-be, I just thought that it would be the most cost-effective measure to achieve optimum therapeutic effect of treatments. Besides, it'd be fair to the smokers. Drinkers should also recieve the same counselling and also the same lifestyle changes. If you think about it, ones who benefit from this stop-drinking-program are the drinkers themselves. So why are we paying for the disease while the cure is free of charge?(2)
BETTER LIVING EVERYONE.
Fateha
Reference:
1) Weathermon, R., Pharm, D. & Crabb, D. Alcohol and Medication Interactions. Alcohol Research and Health, 1999, vol. 23, No. 1, p40-54.
2) Sarah's Status on YM.
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the final question yr tutor posted to u shud hv been answered with a yes.
ReplyDeletetypical double standards.
Being a typical Malay, i malas nak melawan cikgu. someday when i have enough courage, i'll confront her.
ReplyDeletenice one kfa~
ReplyDeleteits just funny how we still have these kinda tutors, in 'health sciences' eyh? it is obviously all about the drinking! when desires take over rationale, arguing may just be a waste of saliva! huhu.. but if u did argue, at least u did your job to 'educate' them. =P
btw, the quote 'why pay for the disease, while the cure is free' was actually from loon, a former popular rap artist who reverted to islam, now named amir junaid muhadith, n now a da'ie, subhanAllah. =]
loon? alhamdullillah...guys like loon should collaberate with us to get this message across. thnx iMujahdah, keep reading=)
ReplyDeleteIn summary:
ReplyDelete“ Maka pernahkah kamu melihat orang yang menjadikan hawa nafsunya sebagai tuhannya, dan Allah membiarkannya sesat berdasarkan ilmu-Nya dan Allah telah mengunci mati pendengaran dan hatinya dan meletakkan tutupan atas penglihatannya? Maka siapakah yang akan memberinya petunjuk sesudah Allah (membiarkannya sesat). Maka mengapa kamu tidak mengambil pelajaran?” (45:23)
“Apakah hukum jahiliyyah yang mereka kehendaki, dan hukum siapakah yang lebih baik daripada hukum Allah bagi orang-orang yang yakin.” (Qs. al-Maa’idah [5]: 50).
betul tu..hukum siapakah yg lebih baik??
ReplyDeletetentulah hukum Allah. thnx for the ayat sweetheart=)