When is a reaction to a medicine an emergency?
Swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, difficulty breathing, a spreading rash, or feeling faint after taking something is a medical emergency. Call 998. Milder side effects such as nausea or a headache can usually wait for advice.
Life-threatening symptoms: call 998 for an ambulance
In the UAE, 998 is the ambulance number, 999 is police and 997 is civil defence. Do not wait for a WhatsApp reply, a callback or a home-visit window when someone may be having a heart attack or stroke, cannot breathe, is unresponsive, is bleeding heavily or is deteriorating quickly.
Keep the packet. The name, strength and time of the dose are the first things any clinician will ask for, and the packaging answers all three faster than memory does at 3am.
What if you have run out of a regular medicine?
It depends on the medicine. A missed dose of many medicines is tolerable until morning. Some, including certain heart, epilepsy, diabetes, steroid and psychiatric medicines, should not be interrupted — for those, seek advice tonight rather than waiting.
- Do not double a dose to catch up unless a clinician has told you to
- Do not substitute a similar-looking medicine belonging to someone else
- Check whether the pharmacy needs a valid prescription before travelling to one
- Take a photograph of the packet and any prescription before you set out
- If the medicine is one that should not be stopped, say so clearly when you call
Prescription-only means prescription-only
A licensed pharmacy in Dubai cannot dispense a prescription-only medicine without a valid prescription, however urgent the need feels. The route is a prescriber, not a longer search for a pharmacy.
Why are leftover antibiotics not a solution?
A leftover course is by definition incomplete, may be the wrong drug for this infection, and may be out of date. Taking antibiotics that are not needed also drives antibiotic resistance, which makes future infections harder to treat.
Most night-time fevers, sore throats and stomach upsets are viral, and antibiotics do nothing for them. If an antibiotic is appropriate, a clinician should choose which one, at what dose and for how long, based on the likely infection rather than on what happens to be in the cupboard.
Sources: World Health Organization — antimicrobial resistance
Common questions
Are there 24-hour pharmacies in Dubai?
Some pharmacies operate extended or 24-hour hours. Availability changes, so confirm by phone before travelling, and check whether a prescription is required for what you need.
I missed one dose. Should I take two now?
Generally no. Doubling up can cause harm with several common medicines. Follow the leaflet's missed-dose instructions, or ask a clinician or pharmacist.
Can a doctor prescribe during a home visit?
A licensed prescriber may prescribe where clinically appropriate after assessment. A prescription is never automatic, and it is not something a website can arrange in advance.
Sources