For many Danes, taking prescription medication is part of their daily life, according to a new YouGov survey compiled on behalf of Metroxpress newspaper.
The survey showed that a staggering 41 percent of Danes take prescription medicine – not including birth control pills – on a daily basis. Among 18 to 29-year-olds the share is 19 percent. Experts are concerned.
“Prescription medicine has potentially damaging effects that should be considered,” Thor Grønlykke, a doctor at the Institute for Rational Pharmacoterapi, told Metroxpress.
“As a doctor, you must be sure that it is necessary to prescribe medicine. We know that today there are many who don’t see any effect from the medicine they take.”
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Ask questions!
Grønlykke went on to say it was important to ask whether it is possible to avoid becoming addicted to strong prescription medicine and to make a plan for how long the treatment will last.
It is important to set an exit-date, even before starting to take the medicine.
“Even when starting to take the medicine, it is important to find out how much it should work in order to continue with it,” Grønlykke said.
“What is the criteria for success? Are there alternatives? Which effect should the medicine have? If it works, when should I stop? These are simple, but important questions to ask.”
