Have you ever found a red vertical line on your tablet packaging? It is not simply a decorative feature. Those red stripes in India are one of the government-mandated warnings that it’s a prescription-only
medicine and not an over-the-counter (OTC) drug. Specialists also insist that these red-line-marked medications should never be used without a doctor’s prescription, as they may cause health issues.
Dr Jagadish Hiremath, a public health expert, said the red line on the pack is an indicator that the drug is a Schedule H or H1 medical product as per the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. These are the groups of medicines that can only be dispensed after showing the prescription.
“Prescription-only means that these medications should be sold only on presentation of a doctor’s valid prescription. The red line is a reminder both for pharmacists and consumers that these medications are capable of causing serious side effects or health complications if used without medical guidance,” he told The Indian Express.
What Does The Red Strip Mean?
The red line is a regulatory caution addressed not only to pharmacists but also to consumers. Along with the blue lines, typical of regular OTC drugs, the red lines distinguish a limited number of medicines that can only be sold on prescription, and if used excessively, may cause serious health problems.
Incorrect medication or dosage errors are the main causes of more than 7,000 deaths that India reports annually; thus, the necessity of awareness about safe medicine use is apparent.
Common Drugs With Red Stripes
Dr Hiremath revealed that many of the common drugs fall under this classification. They include antibiotics like azithromycin and amoxicillin, steroids such as prednisolone, and a few anti-anxiety or sleep medicines like alprazolam. “These are normal medicines, but they require a doctor’s guidance because the dosage, the duration, and the possible drug interactions will differ from one person to another,” he said.
Hormonal pills, painkillers, and a lot of cough syrups, usually self-prescribed, can be dangerous if taken without expert advice.
Risks Of Taking Drugs Without Guidance
Taking such medicines without a doctor’s advice, according to Dr Hiremath, may “hide the symptoms of the diseases you already have, create resistance to the drugs, or lead to the dangerous interactions”. He further explained that the reason why antibiotics should not be overused is that it makes future infections more difficult to treat and that steroids or hormonal medicines can “disrupt natural body functions if misused.”
Among the most frequent side effects are allergies, gastric irritation, hormonal imbalance, mood changes, and addiction. Moreover, one of the most commonly used pain relievers, it “may cause stomach ulcers or kidney issues if a person takes it frequently without supervision,” he said.
Long-Term Damage And Myths
If someone continues to misuse, it could cause damage to some organs, the problem of antibiotic resistance, and hormonal disruption. “There are a few medications that, if misused, can exert a heavy burden on the kidneys or the heart, leading to irreversible damage over time,” he warned.
He also mentioned that the majority of people think that a medication, if it has been of help once, is safe to be used again. “Most people think that over-the-counter drugs are safe, but in reality, it is the opposite,” he said, and that taking more does not equal getting better faster. “Prescription medicines work only when they are taken under the supervision of a qualified professional,” concluded the expert.
