2. You take an anti-diarrheal if you have a fever
Never treat yourself at home with a diarrhea remedy if you also have a fever or if there’s blood or mucus in your bowel movements. These are signs of an infection and warrant a call to your doctor.
3. You take a daily aspirin without asking your doctor
Some people shouldn’t take aspirin every day, especially since it can cause stomach bleeding. Doctors usually recommend it only for people who have an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Women may not benefit as much from aspirin therapy as men. And some people appear to be resistant to aspirin’s anti-clotting effects. (Tests are available to check for aspirin resistance, though some doctors question their accuracy).
4. You quit an anti-anxiety med cold turkey
If you’ve been taking an anti-anxiety medicine for a long time, do not quit abruptly. Talk to your doctor about how to gradually taper the dose. Otherwise, you could experience very serious complications such as seizures.
5. You use old antibiotics for a new infection
First, you should have finished the entire prescription the first time around. Second, many antibiotics are specific to the type of infection you have. Taking the wrong antibiotic might not work and can lead to antibiotic-resistant bacteria, making treatment for that type of infection more difficult the next time.
5 Dangers Of Self-Diagnosis was originally published on blackdoctor.org
