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Lv 6
? asked in Science & MathematicsMedicine · 4 weeks ago

Why do some over the counter remedies say only use for 7 days, then consult a doctor? Are they dangerous to use longer than that?

5 Answers

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  • Anonymous
    3 weeks ago

    Some medicines contain other medicines that you will become addicted too if you take them for so many days in a row. It happened to me! I bought over the counter paracetamol/codeine. Codeine is an addiction medicine but I didn’t plan on taking it for long... I had a very sore tooth and the box said no more than 3 days at a time. I’d never taken codeine before so I wasn’t to know what addiction would feel like. I took the tablets for 10 days solid and went through 3 boxes of them. When I stopped I felt very poorly and couldn’t sleep and all I could think about was taking more of the pills. I didn’t and I fought it. Thankfully! Also sometimes your problem might be a bigger problem so if it’s not gone within 7 days it’s best to see a dr to see what is actually wrong rather than you just thinking you have pulled a muscle and it actually being a Dvt for example 

  • David
    Lv 5
    4 weeks ago

    It means that the condition they are treating might be more serious if you need to take the drug for longer than a week.

    And it does absolve them of liability if you take it longer and something goes wrong.

  • Dixon
    Lv 7
    4 weeks ago

    It is more that if your symptoms persist for that long you need to see a doctor rather than self medicate.

  • DW
    Lv 6
    4 weeks ago

    The remedy is designed to relieve symptoms of a short-term illness. If you're still having those symptoms 7 days later, you may have a different type of illness than the one this remedy was designed for and should have a doctor look at it.

    (I'm using your example of 7 days. Different remedies have different info.)

  • Ash
    Lv 7
    4 weeks ago

    Yes, may be .  Or may be not and that's not what your body needs. So the physician has to investigate further

     

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