A GP has raised health concerns about the prolonged use of three prescribed medicines, warning of their potential for dependency and other side effects.
Dr Asif Ahmed offered his guidance through a TikTok video, advising patients currently taking these medications to seek medical consultation before making any choices regarding ongoing treatment.
He initially addressed omeprazole, a “proton pump inhibitor” utilised to manage conditions that cause excess stomach acid production.
“In my experience a lot of people are put on this for simple heartburn and reflux but aren’t investigated and are put on it for many months, even years,” Dr Ahmed said.
“They get stuck on it, get rebound symptoms and can’t come off it and this has lots of side effects.”
He recommended that patients using omeprazole long-term without clear understanding should contact their GP, who might be able to slowly decrease their dose.
Dr Ahmed subsequently addressed gabapentin, a powerful pain relief medication primarily prescribed for nerve-related discomfort.
“When gabapentin is prescribed for pain – from my experiences and the studies I have read, the dose you need to treat pain is so high that the side effects of feeling drowsy and sleepy are so severe,” he explained.
However, the GP stressed the importance of finding equilibrium between pain management and preserving life quality.
“In some patients it’s working great and the pain is well controlled and they don’t have many side effects,” he elaborated.
“But these cases are rare. Please ask your doctor if it’s something that you have side effects from.”
He claimed: “Whilst it’s also highly, highly effective – especially in treating things like panic attacks and short term use is not an issue – any longer than this, people can become addicted.”
Dr Ahmed finished with a warning regarding diazepam, a medication commonly prescribed for anxiety, muscle spasms, and seizures.
“This is a highly, highly addictive medication,” he cautioned.
The GP added: “If you then try and come off it, you can get really bad withdrawal symptoms that can be life threatening.
“In rare cases, people need it to maintain a good quality of life, but these patients are normally ones who who have been on it for many years and it’s more risky to their health coming off it.”
The NHS advises: “All medicines are designed and prescribed in order to help patients overcome the symptoms of illness, or to prevent symptoms coming back. They are intended to help. It is true, however, that medicines can also cause unwanted effects, which we also call ‘side-effects’.
“No-one can promise, or be promised, that a treatment will not cause side-effects. This is not realistic or honest. A great deal can be done to share information about how small or large a problem or side-effect might be, whether it will lessen over time and what else can be done to reduce a particular side-effect. Do remember that information about side-effects is based on averages. Even a common side-effect doesn’t affect everyone who takes the medicine.”
The statement continues: “Understanding which side-effects a medicine might cause can make them feel more manageable and less worrying. This is clearly very important for patients. It is also important for healthcare professionals. Having honest and open conversations about side-effects helps patients to get the best out of medicines. Ignoring the issue can often result in someone not taking their medicines and becoming unwell again.”
For tailored advice concerning your medication, it’s always recommended to consult with your GP.