Common Urinary Infection Drug Misused
Common Urinary Infection Drug Misused
Researchers Warn that Better Patient Education Is Critical as More Drugs Go Over the Counter
May 25, 2004 -- Many people don't know what they think they know about the over-the-counter drugs they take, and this lack of knowledge can lead to serious and even life-threatening consequences.
In a newly published survey, researchers found a high degree of misunderstanding among women taking Pyridium, a drug recently made available without a prescription to treat the symptoms of urinary tract infections. Many of the women believed the drug actually cured the infection, even though its advertising stated otherwise, and they may have been less likely to see a doctor for treatment as a result.
In the new study, published in the May/June issue of the journal Annals of Family Medicine, researchers surveyed 434 customers at 31 Los Angeles County pharmacies who were buying Pyridium, which is marketed for relief of the pain, burning, and urinary urgency caused by urinary tract infections.
Only 57% of the women who took the survey knew that the drug only treated the symptoms of the infection, not the infection itself and all the other women surveyed believed it had an antibacterial or curative effect.
And even though they were purchasing a pain killer specifically marketed for urinary tract infections, only 29% of women correctly characterized the likely cause of their symptoms and 42% admitted that they did not know or had no idea what was causing them.
Not surprisingly, women who had seen a doctor and were being treated with antibiotics and those who had been prescribed Pyridium by a doctor for an earlier infection were much more likely to have a correct understanding of their condition.
When treated promptly and properly, urinary tract infections are highly curable and rarely lead to complications. But left untreated, the infection can become something far more serious.
Untreated urinary tract infections can lead to potentially life-threatening complications, such as infection of the kidneys, which could permanently damage these organs. Women who have urinary tract infections while pregnant may also have an increased risk of delivering low birth weight or premature infants.
Common Urinary Infection Drug Misused
Researchers Warn that Better Patient Education Is Critical as More Drugs Go Over the Counter
May 25, 2004 -- Many people don't know what they think they know about the over-the-counter drugs they take, and this lack of knowledge can lead to serious and even life-threatening consequences.
In a newly published survey, researchers found a high degree of misunderstanding among women taking Pyridium, a drug recently made available without a prescription to treat the symptoms of urinary tract infections. Many of the women believed the drug actually cured the infection, even though its advertising stated otherwise, and they may have been less likely to see a doctor for treatment as a result.
Urinary Infections Widely Undertreated at Home
In the new study, published in the May/June issue of the journal Annals of Family Medicine, researchers surveyed 434 customers at 31 Los Angeles County pharmacies who were buying Pyridium, which is marketed for relief of the pain, burning, and urinary urgency caused by urinary tract infections.
Only 57% of the women who took the survey knew that the drug only treated the symptoms of the infection, not the infection itself and all the other women surveyed believed it had an antibacterial or curative effect.
And even though they were purchasing a pain killer specifically marketed for urinary tract infections, only 29% of women correctly characterized the likely cause of their symptoms and 42% admitted that they did not know or had no idea what was causing them.
Not surprisingly, women who had seen a doctor and were being treated with antibiotics and those who had been prescribed Pyridium by a doctor for an earlier infection were much more likely to have a correct understanding of their condition.
When treated promptly and properly, urinary tract infections are highly curable and rarely lead to complications. But left untreated, the infection can become something far more serious.
Untreated urinary tract infections can lead to potentially life-threatening complications, such as infection of the kidneys, which could permanently damage these organs. Women who have urinary tract infections while pregnant may also have an increased risk of delivering low birth weight or premature infants.
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