Self-medication is human behaviour in which an individual uses a substance or any exogenous influence to self-administer treatment for the physical and psychological ailment (disease).
Self-medication is a very common practice in our society today and the most widely self-medicated substances are over the counter (OTC) drugs used to treat health issues at home as well as dietary supplements.
Self-medication may have some benefits such as increased patient independence in making decisions about the management of minor illnesses; reducing the cost of treatment such as consultation fees, paperwork costs and reduced hours of waiting in queues to access prescriptions; and better use of clinical skills.
Despite the few benefits, self-medication is highly associated with a vast number of risks which may endanger the life of the patient(s). These may range from misdiagnosis to excessive drug dosage, prolonged duration of drug use, drug interactions, polypharmacy (taking too many unnecessary drugs) and increased antibiotic resistance due to irrational use of antibiotics.
Monitoring strategies; a partnership between patients, physicians, pharmacists and provision of education and information to the concerned parties on safe self-medication could be a strategy to maximize benefit and minimize risks associated with this” occasionally necessary evil”.