Don't Abuse "Dual-Use Drugs"
There are some drugs that fall between prescription and non-prescription drugs, known as "dual-use drugs". They are prescription drugs in hospitals, but become non-prescription drugs on pharmacy shelves.
For example, ibuprofen is a dual-use drug. As a prescription drug, it is mainly used to treat conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, spondylitis, and tenosynovitis, with a maximum dose of 2400 milligrams per day and long-term use required. As a non-prescription drug, it is mainly used for headaches, muscle pain, and menstrual pain, with a maximum dose of 1200 milligrams per day and only short-term use allowed.
Another example is aspirin. As a prescription drug, it can be used to treat rheumatism, rheumatoid arthritis, and cardiovascular diseases. In this case, medication must be taken according to the doctor's instructions.
As a non-prescription drug, it can be used for fever reduction and pain relief (headaches, back pain, toothaches) after a cold.
Currently, there are over 2,300 varieties of dual-use drugs in China, including over 300 chemical drugs and over 2,000 traditional Chinese medicines. When purchasing dual-use drugs, consumers must pay attention to packaging, choose drugs based on their condition, check the batch number of the drug, read the instructions, avoid changing prescriptions without authorization, stop taking the drug after recovery, and seek medical attention if the drug is ineffective.
