00:00Hello friends, I'm Aldo Santos and this is Medicine Explained, where we tell you everything so you feel good.
00:07Today we're going to bring up a very interesting topic, a much-discussed topic that lends itself to a lot of confusion among people.
00:14But first let's hear some doubts that some patients have.
00:19But doctor, how can that medication control my blood pressure if it's less strong than the one I was taking?
00:28Note that the one I was taking was 100 and now you are sending me another one that is only 10 milligrams.
00:35Milligrams? Milli, I know how much?
00:40Doctor! You're prescribing me a 300-dose pill!
00:44No, no, no, doctor, that's too strong for me.
00:48Because I was taking a 5-pack and the truth is I'm scared to take a 300-pack now.
00:54Won't that be too powerful?
01:05Many people think that the potency or effectiveness or strength of a medicine
01:11It is directly proportional to the number of milligrams that the capsule or tablet contains.
01:17They think that a medicine with many milligrams, for example 100, is stronger, is more potent,
01:23is more effective or may have more side effects, more adverse reactions,
01:29than a similar medication but in 10 milligrams.
01:32Which doesn't make much sense, because the logic would be that the fewer milligrams a medication needs
01:41to achieve its action, then it would be more powerful.
01:46Let's reflect.
01:47If a drug needs only 10 milligrams to achieve a certain effectiveness,
01:54Isn't it more powerful than another that requires 100 milligrams to achieve the same effect?
02:01If we are going to analyze in this way, briefly, globally, the potency of a medicine,
02:10We will come to the conclusion that the less quantity, that is, the less milligrams,
02:16need a medication to achieve a certain function,
02:21theoretically it is more powerful than another to achieve the same function, the same effect,
02:27need a lot more milligrams.
02:31But we cannot lose sight of the fact that every pharmaceutical company, every laboratory that develops a product,
02:44a pharmaceutical product, before reaching the market,
02:48subjects it to rigorous and extensive testing to determine the concentration of the active ingredient in that medicine,
02:56that is, the effective substance, the one that really produces the desired effect,
03:01which achieves greater effectiveness with the lowest possible toxicity,
03:05with the lowest likelihood of side effects or adverse effects occurring.
03:10That is why we can find in the market, in pharmacies,
03:14drugs that treat similar diseases, however, one comes with 100 milligrams and another comes with 10 milligrams.
03:21And it doesn't mean that the 100 is more powerful than the 10.
03:25Both are probably very similarly effective at that concentration,
03:32so that 100 of one can be equivalent to 10 of the other.
03:37To summarize, a 100 milligram medication can have exactly the same potency as a 10 milligram medication.
03:49The fact that one says 100 and another says 10, or one says 300 and another says 5,
03:56It does not mean that one is more or less powerful than another.
04:00We must also keep in mind that each individual, each person reacts very differently to the same stimuli.
04:14That's why a medicine can be very effective and with hardly any side effects in a person,
04:21However, at the same concentration, that is, with the same amount of milligrams,
04:25Another person may experience side reactions, adverse reactions or a very intense therapeutic effect.
04:33That is why it is very important for a doctor to adjust the dose, quantity or type of medication to each person,
04:41making the treatment individualized, that is, adapted to the needs and characteristics of each patient.
04:55After all these clarifications, we are going to leave here a group of recommendations, advice,
05:04which are very useful for all those who want to guarantee the potency and effectiveness of their treatment.
05:11Number 1, something we've already said, don't be guided by the number on your pill.
05:17A 100-milligram drug can be just as potent as one that only weighs 5 milligrams.
05:22Number 2, always follow your doctor's recommendations.
05:29On your own, do not increase the dose thinking that a medicine is too weak or not very potent,
05:35or conversely, you do not reduce the dose out of fear, thinking that what your doctor has prescribed is something too strong.
05:42Any change in treatment should always be under the direction and supervision of a physician.
05:48Number 3, generally, in almost all medications, a 10 milligram tablet is equivalent to 2 of 5 milligrams or 4 of 2.5.
06:01So, if you need a 20 milligram medication, but you have 10 milligram tablets at home,
06:08ask your doctor because you can probably use two 10s together and it will be equivalent to one 20s.
06:14Number 4, if your doctor prescribes 10 milligrams of a medication, but the tablet is 20,
06:22You can probably split it and take half a tablet, because half of 20 is 10.
06:31But be careful, never put aside a tablet or pill that is not scored, or open a capsule,
06:41or that its label says it is enteric coated or coated, or that it is extended release or extended release.
06:50Be careful, these medications are designed by the manufacturer so that their contents are slowly released into your body,
06:59so that the effect is sustained over time.
07:04If you split a medication of this type, severe side effects may occur,
07:10or the positive effect may be intense and rapid initially, but its effectiveness may quickly decline,
07:17and therefore you are not doing the treatment correctly.
07:22Never break, crush, or chew a medicine that is not designed for that purpose,
07:28because either it loses therapeutic effectiveness or you are exposed to side effects that can even be dangerous.
07:36Number 5. The potency or effectiveness of a drug may decrease or even disappear completely.
07:45if they are not stored and handled properly.
07:49If exposed to an inappropriate temperature, high humidity, or stored outside of their original packaging,
07:55are combined with other medications, this can happen.
07:59It is also important that you keep in mind that any medicine that changes its appearance,
08:03that loses its shine, that becomes fragile, the tablet crumbles, its capsule softens,
08:09or changes color, appearance, smell, it must be discarded.
08:13Always carefully read the instructions that accompany the medicine,
08:18because it gives a series of recommendations for storage, handling and administration,
08:24in such a way as to guarantee maximum effectiveness with the greatest safety,
08:29That is, with the lowest probability of side effects appearing.
08:34If you still do not find sufficient information or the information you have found is not satisfactory
08:38about those medications you are using, you can contact us.
08:43Leave us a comment here on this video or reach out on any of our platforms.
08:48We are on Facebook, on Instagram, on Twitter.
08:51Give us the name of your medication and we can give you recommendations.
08:54on how to use it, how to store it and handle it in such a way that it remains,
09:01maximum potency and greatest effectiveness are guaranteed with the least appearance of side effects.
09:08Number 6.
09:10Many medications come in suspension or syrup form or come in ampoules
09:16to be mixed with water and used intravenously or intramuscularly,
09:22They need to be shaken beforehand.
09:25That is very important so that your content, the different components that you have,
09:30mix in a homogeneous manner.
09:33Number 7.
09:35Always tell your doctors about all the medications you are taking or have recently taken.
09:42It is important that you bring the prescription or at the very least bring the box,
09:47the medicine bottle or cap so the doctor can check it.
09:53It doesn't matter if it's from another specialty, it doesn't matter if it's for another health problem,
09:58It is always very important for every doctor to know what other medications you are taking.
10:03Because remember, there are some medications that can interact,
10:06That is, they can act in an inappropriate way in your body,
10:09causing any of them to lose effectiveness or efficiency
10:13or that increases the possibility of it being harmful, of producing toxicity
10:18and side effects may appear.
10:21Never, never withhold information from your doctor,
10:23even if the medications you are taking are from a natural source
10:28or you have taken them freely,
10:31That is, you prescribed it yourself or bought it at a pharmacy without a prescription.
10:37or the neighbor recommended it to you.
10:40Well friends, that's all for today.
10:42I hope it has been useful to you.
10:43If you have any questions or concerns, you can write them here in the comments.
10:46and on all our platforms,
10:48bringing us new topics for future videos.
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10:57because someone very close may be needing us.
11:00And don't forget to tell everyone that you learned this here at Medicine Explained,
11:06where we tell you everything so you feel good.
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