“Prescription regulations exist primarily to protect patients by ensuring medicines are used safely and appropriately,” says Dr Amit Prakash Singh, Consultant – Internal Medicine, CK Birla Hospital, Delhi. He says that medicines such as Telma 40 (telmisartan) are prescribed only after considering several factors, including a person’s blood pressure, kidney function, medical history and other medications they may be taking. “When prescription medicines are supplied without proper medical evaluation, there is a risk that the person may be taking the wrong drug, the wrong dose or using it for an inappropriate condition. This can lead to complications such as excessively low blood pressure, dizziness, fainting, kidney dysfunction or dangerous interactions with other medicines. Self-medication may also delay the diagnosis of an underlying health problem that requires proper medical attention,” he says.
