Medical regulator issues safety warning on painkillers and antibiotics misuse

Drug Rules Reminder

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation has warned the public against taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics without medical advice. The circular issued on September 21 is a reminder that existing rules already require prescriptions and does not ban these medicines. Most NSAIDs fall under Schedule H of the Drugs Rules of 1945, while most antibiotics fall under Schedule H1. These rules require retail sales to happen only with a prescription from a registered medical practitioner.

Health Risks

Unsupervised use of NSAIDs can reduce blood flow to the kidneys, leading to acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease. This risk is higher for people who already have kidney disease, diabetes, or hypertension. Indian pharmacovigilance data shows that 82 percent of NSAID-associated chronic kidney disease reports came from people aged 40 to 80, with diclofenac linked to 43 percent of those reports. Meanwhile, the inappropriate use of antibiotics contributes to antimicrobial resistance. The World Health Organization estimates that bacterial antimicrobial resistance was associated with over 4.7 million global deaths in 2021.

Studies and Studies Data

While India lacks a single national figure for antibiotic misuse, available studies show widespread self-medication. A review of 66 Indian studies involving nearly 30,000 participants estimated overall self-medication at 64.4 percent. A community study in South-East Delhi found that 35 percent of 200 participants reported antibiotic self-medication, with pharmacies serving as the main source. Children are also a vulnerable group for antibiotic self-medication because caregivers often rely on past prescriptions or pharmacy advice.

Context

The CDSCO warning highlights the growing public health challenge of antimicrobial resistance and preventable kidney damage driven by unregulated drug access. Medical regulators globally emphasize stewardship to ensure patients take the correct medicine dose for the right duration. Simple public awareness remains critical to prevent long-term harm from everyday medicines.