Drug Side Effects

As a pharmacist working closely with patients every day, I see one habit in India that worries me the most – using antibiotics without a doctor’s prescription. Many people believe antibiotics are “strong medicines” that can cure any infection quickly. Some use old prescriptions, some take advice from friends, and some directly ask for antibiotics

Introduction: Why Expired Medicine Safety Matters in Every Indian Home In my many years as a pharmacist, one common thing I see almost every day is people carrying old medicine strips, half-used syrups, and creams that expired long ago. Most Indian homes have a small medicine box where leftover medicines are stored “just in case.”

A Pharmacist’s Real-Life Guide to Staying Safe As a pharmacist, I often see people walk into the pharmacy saying, “I’ve been taking this medicine for years, it’s safe.” What many don’t realize is this: Medicines don’t work alone. They interact.  In India, self-medication, leftover tablets, and mixing ayurvedic, homeopathic, and allopathic medicines is very common.