Can Chinese medicine and western medicine be eaten together？ Doctor’s urgent reminder

　　Recently, a news that "a woman was infected with COVID-19’s liver failure caused by taking drugs indiscriminately" caused a wide discussion.

　　According to media reports, a 40-year-old woman in Pingdingshan, Henan Province, panicked after being infected with COVID-19, and took medicine as soon as she had symptoms of fever. As a result, she blindly took medicine to reduce her fever because she did not follow the doctor’s advice, resulting in yellow skin and liver failure, and was urgently transferred to the ICU of Zhengzhou No.1 Hospital for rescue.

　　On December 16th, Huashan Hospital affiliated to Fudan University published a popular science article, in which it was pointed out that many people had misunderstandings about cold medication, and scientific medication guidance was urgently needed to help people use drugs rationally. What are the precautions for home treatment? Look at the key points ↓↓↓↓

　　Looking at a basket of "cold medicine", how to choose?

　　Cold medicine is a general term, which can be roughly divided into the following categories for ease of understanding:

　　Knowing that cold medicines are divided into several categories, let’s "sit in the right place" the ingredients in the common cold medicine instructions:

　　Cold medicine can’t kill the virus.

　　Cold medicine can only relieve all kinds of uncomfortable symptoms when catching a cold and make people feel better, which is what we usually call "symptomatic treatment".

　　If the symptoms are mild, you don’t have to take cold medicine.

　　"Eating is better than not eating" is a misunderstanding of medication. In addition, there is no need to use drugs regularly, only when necessary. For example, there is no need to take antipyretics when there is no fever or low fever.

　　How many kinds of cold medicine should I take?

　　1. Pay attention to taking compound cold medicine with other drugs.

　　There are both single and compound cold medicines. Compound drugs usually include several kinds of "cold medicines", so don’t reuse other drugs of the same kind, just take one drug of the same kind.

　　For example, take the common cold medicine "XNOX" as an example, which already contains "acetaminophen, pseudoephedrine hydrochloride, dextromethorphan hydrobromide, chlorphenamine maleate". There are all kinds of drugs for reducing fever, relieving cough and relieving nasal symptoms, but there are no expectorant drugs. If there is a demand for expectoration, it is enough to add expectorant drugs.

　　2. Don’t eat compound cold medicine containing antipyretic ingredients without fever.

　　For example, you can choose cetirizine, loratadine or chlorphenamine maleate for nasal symptoms. Chlorphenamine maleate is the second choice, because chlorphenamine maleate is an older generation of antiallergic drugs with relatively many side effects, which may be inappropriate for some people. Another example is coughing and expectoration, so you can use some cough-relieving and expectorant drugs alone.

　　Can Chinese medicine and western medicine be eaten together?

　　1. Don’t think that it is Chinese medicine, so it does not conflict with western medicine by default.

　　Traditional Chinese medicine is usually a compound. It is particularly important to note that some traditional Chinese medicine compounds also contain antipyretic ingredients of western medicine. For example, acetaminophen, such as vitamin C Yinqiao tablets, Yinju Jiedu pills and Ganmaoning capsules, all contain acetaminophen.

　　Therefore, be sure to look at the pharmaceutical ingredients in the instructions before taking them. Do not take it with western medicine antipyretics.

　　2. Chinese medicine is not "more is better", so don’t take it in multiple ways.

　　Different traditional Chinese medicines may also have repeated ingredients or effects. Therefore, don’t blindly think that taking more than a few drugs can make more than one disease-resistant weapon. In fact, so many so-called weapons sometimes only bring more side effects, such as hurting the spleen and stomach and liver and kidney.

　　Medication reminder of all kinds of drugs

　　acetaminophen

　　Excessive use can cause serious liver damage and even death.

　　On March 3, 2020, National Medical Products Administration issued the Announcement on Revising the Instructions for Acetaminophen Regular Release and Slow Release Preparations, suggesting that the maximum amount of acetaminophen taken orally should not exceed 2g a day. If a normal person takes 6 ~ 10 grams at a time, it can cause extensive liver tissue necrosis and even liver failure. Therefore, it should be taken in strict accordance with the dosage and time interval of the instructions. Do not pursue the return of temperature to normal, but take medicine at short intervals or in large doses at will.

　　Fever is the human body’s struggle against the virus. If the temperature of fever does not exceed 38.5℃ and the body is not particularly unwell, it is not recommended to take antipyretics.

　　Ibuprofen

　　A few patients will have symptoms of gastrointestinal discomfort after taking the medicine. Patients with active or previous history of peptic ulcer, gastrointestinal bleeding or perforation are prohibited.

　　Acetaminophen and ibuprofen

　　The two drugs should not be taken at the same time, and can be taken alternately.

　　The antipyretic effects of the two drugs are similar, but a single dose of acetaminophen takes effect faster, while ibuprofen has a relatively strong antipyretic effect and a relatively long cooling time.

　　Many kinds of compound cold medicines (including traditional Chinese medicine) contain acetaminophen, which needs special attention.

　　Pseudoephedrine

　　Severe hypertension and coronary heart disease are prohibited. Patients with hyperthyroidism, diabetes, ischemic heart disease, glaucoma and prostatic hypertrophy should use cold medicine containing pseudoephedrine with caution.

　　Chlorphenamine maleate

　　Use with caution for patients with bladder neck obstruction, pyloric duodenal obstruction, hyperthyroidism, glaucoma, peptic ulcer, hypertension and prostatic hypertrophy.

　　Dextromethorphan Hydrobromide/pholcodine

　　For patients with excessive phlegm, it is easy to cough up phlegm and aggravate infection. In severe cases, suffocation may occur. Therefore, phlegm should be eliminated first, and antitussive drugs should not be taken only.

　　Safety tips for home medication in special period.

　　Huashan Hospital affiliated to Fudan University (text | Department of Pharmacy Chi Danyi), comprehensive People’s Daily Weibo, Henan Radio and Television Minsheng Channel.

Source: Nanjing Daily