Do Not 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 and non-prescription drugs on pharmacy shelves.
For example, ibuprofen is a dual-use drug. As a prescription drug, it is mainly used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, spondylitis, tenosynovitis, etc., with a maximum dose of 2400 milligrams per dose and long-term use required. As a non-prescription drug, it is mainly used for headaches, muscle pain, menstrual pain, etc., with a maximum dose of 1200 milligrams per day and can only be used for a short period of time.
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, toothache, etc.) after a cold.
Currently, there are more than 2,300 different types of dual-use drugs in China, including over 300 chemical drugs and over 2,000 traditional Chinese medicines. 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 when the illness is cured, and seek medical attention if the drug is ineffective.
