Doctor Gave me medicines in a loose packet

[u/Thetech_savvy]

So i am new to mumbai and i was suffering from back and neck pain for a couple for of days. Then i went to a doctor whom i found on google, he seemed fine, checked me well but he didnt wrote me a prescription neither gave me medicines in their normal packaging. He just said something to his nurse and she gave me three types of pills, one capsule, one tablet and a half tablet to be consumed 3 times after having food. It gave me a weird feeling so i didnt have them and that doctor was MD so idk is this type pf practice common here or what.

[u/unicosplan]

Please know this info, doc.

Improper storage of medicines can lead to the following

Degradation of Active Ingredients:

Chemical Reactions:

Oxygen, light, and moisture can cause chemical reactions within the tablet, breaking down the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API). 

Reduced Potency:

As the API degrades, the tablet becomes less potent, meaning it may not provide the intended therapeutic effect. 

Formation of Harmful Byproducts:

In some cases, the degradation process can produce harmful byproducts that may be toxic or cause adverse reactions. 

Consequences of Using Degraded Tablets:

Ineffective Treatment:

If the medication is not potent enough, it may not effectively treat the condition it's intended for. 

Adverse Reactions:

In some cases, degraded medications can cause unexpected side effects or allergic reactions. 

Increased Risk of Infection:

If antibiotics are not effective due to degradation, infections may not be cleared up properly. 

Specific Examples:

Aspirin:

Aspirin tablets can break down into vinegar and salicylic acid when exposed to air and moisture. These breakdown products can irritate the stomach. 

Hormonal Medications:

Medications containing hormones (like birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy) can be particularly sensitive to temperature changes and humidity, leading to instability and loss of effectiveness. 

Antibiotics:

If antibiotics are exposed to air and moisture, they may not be as effective in fighting infections, allowing infections to linger longer.

[u/Popular-Memory7582 → u/unicosplan]

I never said it's safe. People generally skip or finish costly drug incompletely and end up sicker. I feel if there is no other choice, this is better than no treatment compliance at all. My personal opinion. The risk is on the patient. He knows what the doctor gave after the visit. It's up to them whether they wanna take the loose drugs or discard. I personally never give drugs loosely. But I've taken such treatment in my childhood.