On the occasion of International Overdose Awareness Day, commemorated on August 31, 2026, Christelle NKAPEMIN, a pharmacist at Douala General Hospital, reminded everyone that self-medication directly exposes patients to a major risk of overdose.
Every day, at home and on the street, there’s always a neighbor, a friend, or a family member who claims to be able to cure every ailment. They’re often nicknamed « Docta. » As soon as you mention a symptom, they immediately recommend a medication. For example, if you say you have a headache, they’ll immediately tell you, « Take this pill, it’ll relieve it. » They dictate the medication and the exact dosage, as if they were healthcare professionals. In an awareness video released on May 10, 2026, the Minister of Public Health, Dr. Manaouda Malachie, stated that one in two people in Cameroon treats themselves. Through the video, he raised the alarm about the dangers of self-medication and firmly reminded everyone that medications should not be bought like candy because they can be harmful to health if misused. On the occasion of International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31, 2026, the Douala General Hospital sounded the alarm on Facebook. Christelle NKAPEMIN, a pharmacist at the hospital, reminded everyone that taking medication without medical advice is dangerous: « The only difference between a remedy and a poison is the dose. »
The liver, kidneys, and heart can be affected.
Self-medication first exposes one to the risk of misuse. When taken at an inappropriate dose, the product can become toxic to the body. The specialist cites liver, kidney, and heart toxicity as some of the main possible complications. The liver can be particularly vulnerable, as it plays a role in the metabolism of many medications. Excessive or repeated use of certain products can therefore cause liver toxicity. The kidneys can also suffer the consequences of medication misuse, as can the cardiovascular system with certain products. According to the pharmacist, it is therefore essential to adhere to the dosage prescribed by the doctor or recommended by the pharmacist. Modifying the quantity or frequency of intake oneself exposes one to risks that are not always immediately apparent.
Doubling a dose does not speed up recovery
Among the frequently observed errors, the specialist first cites misunderstanding of instructions. With children, in particular, parents may confuse units of measurement: milligrams and milliliters, drops and milliliters, teaspoon and tablespoon. A simple measurement error can then lead to administering a much larger quantity than intended. Another situation is forgetting to take a dose. Some patients, when they realize they have forgotten their medication, take two doses at the same time to « make up for » the missed dose. However, this practice can lead to exceeding the recommended dose. The pharmacist also describes the behavior of
patients who, not feeling the effect of the medication quickly, decide to increase the dose themselves. « It’s not providing relief very quickly, I’ll double the dose so the pain goes away faster, » they sometimes tell themselves. This is a dangerous decision, because the effectiveness of a medication does not depend solely on the quantity consumed. This search for quick relief can therefore lead to an overdose, with sometimes serious consequences.
Drowsiness, vomiting, slow breathing: signs to watch out for
An overdose occurs when the amount of medication in the body exceeds the therapeutic dose it can tolerate. Symptoms can be digestive, neurological, respiratory, or cardiovascular. At home, abdominal pain, nausea, severe vomiting, or bloody diarrhea should raise concern. Unusual drowsiness is also a cause for concern, especially if a person becomes difficult to wake or fails to remain conscious. Difficulty breathing or, conversely, abnormally slow breathing are also signs of an emergency. The heart rate may also become abnormally rapid. Christelle Nkapemin urges particular vigilance in children. If a child is found with an empty box of medication, this should be considered a possible overdose « until proven otherwise, » even if the child is not yet showing any symptoms.
In case of overdose, do not give milk or induce vomiting.
When an overdose is suspected, the pharmacist recommends acting immediately. She advises remaining calm, noting the time of ingestion, identifying the medication, the dose, the number of tablets taken, and the victim’s weight, and then taking the victim to the nearest hospital emergency room. During the journey, the victim’s breathing should be closely monitored. If the victim is unconscious but breathing, the expert advises immediately placing them in the recovery position and, above all, not inducing vomiting or administering milk, oil, or charcoal, as these substances may worsen the injury or accelerate the absorption of the drug into the body. In the event of an overdose, the specialist emphasizes that one should never wait until the next day hoping for improvement, because « every minute counts » to ensure effective medical care.
Self-medication is not simply about taking medication without a prescription. It can also involve taking the wrong dose, combining medications in a risky way, or taking additional medication to speed up relief. Caution should always be the rule.
Marie Chantale FAIDA
