NPA study reveals misconceptions about medical treatments

The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) has published a new report that reveals potentially harmful misconceptions about common medicines among people in the UK.

To coincide with Ask Your Pharmacist Week, the organisation has highlighted survey findings showing that one in five patients believe it is healthy to take breaks from long-term medical treatments, as they wrongly think this will create a "detox" effect.

Other common erroneous beliefs include the idea that non-prescription medicines recommended to others can be taken safely, that adult medication can be given to children in smaller doses, or that aspirin is a weaker version of ibuprofen.

Leyla Hannbeck, head of information at the NPA, said many of these misunderstandings could lead to extreme danger for patients, making it vital to seek informed advice.

"Most pharmacies now have consultation areas where you can sit down and talk with the pharmacist without being overheard," she noted.

Ask Your Pharmacist Week is taking place between November 7th and 13th and has been endorsed by pharmacy minister Lord Howe and Kevin Barron MP, chairman of the All Party Pharmacy Group.