Why we don't smile sometimes (1)

     Was quite happy today until i met these few customers :

Customer A : Do you have these medicine?? ( showing a few types of pills without labels, indication or 
                     any  marks on the tablets)

Me              : Oh, can i know what are these for? I need to know before i can give you any medicine.

Customer A : HUH?! You don't know what are these??? Are you sleeping in class ?? How am i suppose
                     to know what are these? you are suppose to tell me. Ai.. Don't know you have license 
                     or not.

Customer B : Do you have this product ? ( a direct selling product or some unknown product or some 

                     products from overseas)

Me              : Sorry, we don't have this, if it is ok for you, i can recommend you with something that has 
                     the same active ingredient.

Customer B : What ? ! Pharmacy XYZ has this. Why your shop don't keep this. Everything also don't 
                     have. You are causing so much trouble for me.  @!%* @ ( rude words)

       I know usually we need to great customers with a smile, but, don't forget that we are humans too. When you meet with just one unreasonable people, you maybe able to ignore it; but if you encountered a few of the same kind in a row, it would really ruin one's day. 

        Now, let me explain why we can't give you your medicine, customer A:

       First of all, a pharmacist is not any "super computer" who can just scan the unknown medicine that you passed us and get the right one for you. There are so many pharmaceutical companies that produce different drugs today.Without knowing the name of the drug or the indication, we won't be able to provide you with the medicine that you want. Won't you be afraid if i just pass you some white tablets if you show me some white tablets? Won't you ask what are they? What are the danger that it will cause?? You maybe in great risk if you take the wrong medicine. So, it would be best if you could bring us the prescription =)

      About customer B,

      There are many companies that produce the same drug. It is quite impossible for us to keep products from each and every company ( especially overseas company, as some are not even imported into Malaysia). So, please try to be a little more understanding before you start opening your mouth.  

Just a joke of the day

Antibiotic Resistance

     During my practice, usually there are many walk-in-customers who asked for antibiotics. These are some customers that i often encountered :

Pharmacist: What can i do for you?

Customer: I want to buy antibiotic (without prescription or some with a so called " sample")

Pharmacist : Why do you need that?

Customer A : I  want to keep it just in case if i have infection, i can take it

Customer B : I have sore throat and my doctor always give me that 

Customer C : I have toothache  

Customer D : Of course i need it. if i don't need it, i don't ask. You stupid xxxx. Do you know the function of the drugs? Where are you graduated? ( these are some rude customers, often i will just ignored them)

When i refused to sell it to them, they will start yelling or threaten me or say that they will go and make a complain. Hey people, please try to understand the function of antibiotic before you even start taking it. All the superbugs were created because of you. Try to remember that we are not there to make your life miserable or make you suffer more, we are just trying to do our job and we have the right to make the decision that we think are most appropriate. 

Some History of Antibiotics 

        The best way to understand a situation is to know its history : 

In 1941, Penicillin was created and  was called the " wonder drug' because it could control and cured many serious bacterial infections. People believed that infectious disease would become a history ; but, this is not the case. Due to the widespread use of penicillin, the bacteria began to evolve and fight back. Bacteria mutated and when they survive, they passed down the resistant trait to their offspring. Therefore, within a few years, penicillin-resistant bacteria were found. Then , new antibiotic (Methcillin) were developed to kill off these penicillin-resistant bacteria but methicillin- resistant bacterias were developed too... Stronger antibiotics were created ( Vancomycin) but , there appears again super bugs that are resistant to it.... this is like a non- ending fight between human and bacteria !! 

A cartoon of how penicillin- resistant- bacteria were formed

Why do antibiotic resistance occurred? 

        When a bacteria population were exposed to an antibiotic, the bacteria that are susceptible to the antibiotic would be killed while the bacteria that are resistant to it will survive. These resistant - bacteria would proliferate and spread. Thus, antibiotic would kill off the "weak" bacteria but increase the number of those " strong" one,  Why is this happening when the antibiotics were suppose to kill off the bacteria? These are the reasons:

1) People do not finish their course of antibitics when they thought they have recovered. When the symptoms dissapeared, they thought all the germs were killed, they will stop taking the antibiotics. But, in the real situation, the only bacteria that were killed were the weaker one, the  stronger one survive and spread. This make the same antibiotic USELESS next time when the person were infected with the same bacteria infection.  ( proof : the sample that they bring me)

Ha ha.. The bacteria lecturer giving out clue to the new bacteria

2) Take the antibitotic when it is a viral infection and not a bacterial infection e.g : common cold and flu. Virus wont be killed and they will developed into a more harmful species.

    Don't blame others when super bugs like AH1N1 were discovered. Blame yourself because it is you that created all these super bugs, because it is you who misuse the antibiotics !! 

A cartoon showing scientists discovering superbugs

Some news and articles about antibiotic resistance :
1) http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7608167.stm
2) http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7520689.stm
3) http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7050546.stm