International J.

of Healthcare and Biomedical Research, Volume: 04, Issue: 04, July 2016, 21-24

Review article
Self Medication - Reasons, Risks and Benefits
Vidyavati SD1, Sneha A2, Kamarudin J3, Katti SM4

1Asst. Professor, Dept. of Community Medicine, USM-KLE IMP, Belagavi, Karnataka

2Intern, 4Prof & Head, Dept. of Community Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Belagavi, Karnataka
3Deputy Dean, USM-KLE-IMP Belagavi, Karnataka
Correspondence Author- Dr. Vidyavati SD

Abstract:
Self medication is defined as selection use of medicines without any doctor’s prescription by people or over the counter
medicines for their minor illness or symptoms Or According to WHO self medication is selection and use of non prescription
medicines by individuals to treat self recognized illness or symptoms. It is practiced world wild. This article covers (aims to find)
the reason for self medication medicines used for symptoms, most commonly used medicines, who all use self medication, name
of the medicines and from where they get information about medicine most commonly used medicines are pain killers
antipyretics, cough cold remedies, anti allergies antacids, vitamins and tonics. All though some medicines are risk free and useful
for treatment of minor health problems, their excess & regular use may lead to some serious health problems and side effects and
adverse reactions. The practice of self care may change locality and rejoin. It is more in younger and educated people because
they have no time to go to doctor and no patience to wait. This article presents all about self medication.
Key words – Self medication, Antibiotics, Prescription

Introduction: economics, religion, awareness about medicine,

Self Medication is major form of self care. It involves
use of medicines by the persons to treat self
recognized minor illness both gender (male and
female), socioeconomic states rich & poor, educated
1
and non educated.
World scenario - Self medication is practiced all
over world. Today all countries rich poor,
developing, developed, all are practicing self
medication. Now a day’s worldwide appreciation is
seen towards self medication and self care.
Countries like Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Canada,
China, Colombia, Cost Arica, el Salvador frame,
Germany, Guatemala, India, Italy, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, UK, Venezula & many other countries
are practicing self medication use of SM also
depends upon healthcare system culture, education,
influence of media & communication etc. But minor
illness & symptoms, suffering of human being is
same all over the world. Some study shows South
Africa is using more self medication compared to
others. Percentage of OTC medicine satisfaction is in
Mexico. 2,3,4
Definition – According to WHO, self medication is
the selection & use of medicines by persons to treat
self-recognized illness or symptoms. This broadly
includes old prescription, referring prescription,
consulting friends, and acquiring medication without
prescription, consulting friends & relatives,
neighbor’s social group sharing medicines.
Concept of rational drug use is inherent to the issue
of self medication. Halophiles the Alexandrian
physician in 300 BC had very well said that
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 International J. of Healthcare and Biomedical Research, Volume: 04, Issue: 04, July 2016, 21-24
medicines are nothing in themselves, but are the very
hands of god if employed reasons & prudence.
Why do people use or prefer self medication? Now a
day’s people are conscious about health. Patients
want immediate relief. Say for example a lady wants
attend pooja or she wants to get married, or a student
to attend exam she wants to postpone her periods.
Once they go to doctor and get the prescription and
they go on using same for self care not only that they
advise to friends, relatives and others. Whoever is in
need?
Self medication has number of reasons ex – use for
self care feeling sympathy towards family members,
no time to go to doctor and wait in long queue.
There is an increased trend of self medication
particularly among educated people. This is due to
improved socio economic states, education, life style
changes lack of time, easily available medicine, both
husband and wife working, knowledge about illness
and managing capacity, easily available information
from media.
st
Self medication is 1 option for minor illness. It is
common practice worldwide may be it varies from
country to country. In the treatment minor illness
problems are self limited, so self medication is used.
One way it is useful for government, this can reduce
cost of health care and allow health workers to
concentrate on emergency disease, but at the same
time side effects of self medication can be emergency
same time self medication is very dangerous too.
Self medication provides a lower cost alternative for
people who cannot afford the cost of clinical service
and medicine bill, if person uses self medication for
minor problems it is well and good, but anything
goes wrong ex- drug reaction, anaphylactic shock,
toxicity then person will land up in to serious
problems.
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OTC - Over the counter medicines can be purchased
without prescription. This is to save time and money
and get relief immediately. Reasons for self
medication include mild illness, previous experience
of good results by some medicines. 2,3,4,5,6,7
Sources of information: Following are different
sources where people get information like
pharmacists, friends, relatives, TV advertisement,
books, internet, person who works in pharmacy.
Stationery shop, pan shop supermarket, Karana shop
(grocery shop) also provide simple medicines.
Common medicines used for self medication are
analgesics, antipyretics, antacids, anti-diarrheal,
antidepressants, anti anxiety (sleeping pills), anti-
allergic, anti emitics, eye drops, ear drops, nasal
drops, skin ointment, antibiotics, steroids, vitamins,
tonics, protein preparations.
Conditions treated by self medication - Headache,
body ache, cough cold, constipation, loose motion,
acidity, generalized weakness, sleep lessens
(insomnia), fever. Skin infection, joint pain, burns,
menstrual pain, insect bites etc.
Advantages of self medication -
• It helps to prevent and treat symptoms and
aliments that don’t require a doctor.
• Patient gets immediate relief. This reduces
the pressure of medical services where
health care. Services are not available and
insufficient.
• Increase the availability of health care in
rural area or remote areas, hilly areas.
• Patient gets control over the chronic disease.
• Good for Patient wellness and productivity.
• Economic improvement for employer.
• Cost saving and time saving to health care of
the people.
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Disadvantages of self medication –
Once medicines are entering human body, get
absorbed rapidly. At the same time medicine gets
sold rapidly through a, powerful marketing and no or
less control over medicine. They are used and miss
used and over used for different type of illness.
e.g. Taking pain killers for long time out consultation
of doctor and out knowing the cause of headache.
e.g. Paracetamol is antipyretic and analgesic which is
used in large doses can cause liver problems
(toxicity).
e.g. Major problem or disadvantages of self
medication is emergence of human pathogen
resistance microorganisms worldwide particularly in
developing countries, where antibiotics are often used
and available without prescription. Its irrational use
increases the risk of adverse reactions. And person
may develop resistance to particular antibiotics,
hypersensitivity of drug withdrawal symptoms and
temporary masking of disease can delay correct
diagnosis. Some medicines are banned in the
market & user doesn’t know and they go on
consuming.
Conclusion:
Many research studies show that self medication is a
global phenomenon. This article is focused on self
medication, over the counter, their use, reasons,
names of the medicines commonly used, common
and minor illness to use self medication. If person
using self medication have sufficient knowledge
about medicine it is well and good (Dose, time side
effect). But at the same time person is having lack of
information about particular medicine it can cause
serious reactions. E.g. skin problem hypersensitivity,
allergy, anaphylactic shock, and then the person
family members will land up in serious problem. The
ratio of educated people who are using the self
medication is high compared to illiterate people. Self
medication in India is very much in use especially
rural area. Government and health authorities need to
concentrate towards this area.8,9,10,11,12,13,14
Recommendations:
Drug regulatory health authorities have to inspect and
dedicate time to raise awareness of people general on
pro and cons responsible for self medication. So that
they can improve their attitude towards practice of
self medication.
• It can be added in the student’s curriculum
also.
• Health education of peoples, students,
pharmacists. They should be actively
involved in health education.
• This may help in including the practice of
self medication.
• Need for strict law enforcement to limit
purchase of medicines out prescription.
• Pharmacists should be made aware about
media legal aspects, consumer’s protection
act and human rights about self medication.
• Improving communication and improving a
referral system between pharmacists and
physicians is an important issue.

References:
1.World Health Organization: The role of the pharmacist in self care and self‐medication. Report of the 4th WHO
Consultative Group on the role of the pharmacist in health care system 1998.
Available from: http://www.who.int/medicines/library/dap/who‐dap‐98‐13/who‐dap‐98‐13. pdf.

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2. Self‐care in the Context of Primary Health Care Report of the Regional Consultation Bangkok, Thailand, 7–9
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VithaldasVidyavihar, Juhu Tara Road, Santacruz (West), Mumbai nih.gov/pubmed/18232170

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