Self-medication is very harmful. In many developing countries including Pakistan; patients who are living in rural areas (far away from the hospital, medical center) take self-medication. However, there are certain reasons for self-medication.

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0194240

To complicate the matter, alternative medicine, a totally legit think to do in some cultures is considered bad in others.

Self-medication is very harmful. In many developing countries including Pakistan; patients who are living in rural areas (far away from the hospital, medical center) take self-medication. However, there are certain reasons for self-medication.

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0194240

Self-medication is a human behavior in which an individual uses a substance or any exogenous influence to self-administer treatment for physical or psychological ailments. The most widely self-medicated substances are over-the-counter drugs used to treat common health issues at home, as well as dietary supplements. Potential risks of self-medication practices include: incorrect self-diagnosis, delays in seeking medical advice when needed, infrequent but severe adverse reactions, dangerous drug interactions, incorrect manner of administration, incorrect dosage, incorrect choice of therapy, masking of a severe disease and risk for health

Slef medication is something better than no medicine. In poor countries where over the counter drugs are available for most of the conditions, and for people in poverty there may be no other choice.

Definitely self-medication is a serious problem of public health, and this is something that can not be hidden, the most real example is the world of superbacteria, bacteria resistant to all kinds of antibiotic, in my clinical practice I have witnessed this type of Powerful Pathogens agents

Thank you Dr. Ivan David Lozada Martinez

Self-medication is the selection and use of medicines by individuals to treat self-recognized or self-diagnosed conditions or symptoms. Self-medication practices are considered harmful. Bacterial resistance, dependence, digestive bleeding, hypersensitivity reaction, drug withdrawal symptom are some of the serious health risks involved in self-medication. Please have a look at the following RG links.

Article Risks of Self-Medication Practices

Article Complications Associated with Self-Medication

Article Self-medication: A major cause of health Issues

Article DANGERS OF ONLINE SELF-MEDICATION

Article Self-medication of corticosteroids: a life threatening case ...

Article Self-medication and their consequences: A challenge to healt...

Article Self-Medication and Its Challenges: A Review.

Article Self-Medication Practices and Risk Factors for Self-Medicati...

Self medication without consulting any medical supervisor should be a avoided even for common health issues. There are many potential risk associated with self medication which sometimes leads to severe adverse reactions.

• Arvind Singh ,

  Nirmala S.V.S.G

  Sandhyarani Khomdram ’ thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Definitely harmful because of lack of proper knowledge and experience.

Of course self medication is harmful for person who has no medical knowledge.

Self-medication is defined as the selection and use of medicines by individuals (or a member of the individuals' family) to treat self-recognized or self-diagnosed conditions or symptoms.

Potential risks of self-medication practices include: incorrect self-diagnosis, delays in seeking medical advice when needed, infrequent but severe adverse reactions, dangerous drug interactions, incorrect manner of administration, incorrect dosage, incorrect choice of therapy, masking of a severe disease and risk of dependence and abuse.

With regards.

Thank you Dr. Yehya A. Salih for your thorough explanations.

Regards,

Gulzar

Self-medication is a human behavior in which the individual uses over-the-counter material to treat a physical or mental illness. The disease is usually not diagnosed or treated. The psychology of such behavior within a specific context for the use of self-propelling drugs, psychotr and may be seen as a human right, absolute or highly related to the right to refuse professional medical treatment including mental illness and/or trauma, As a serious harm to physical and mental health if it is motivated by addictive mechanisms. Self-medication is usually seen as a gain of personal freedom at the expense of approved medicine, and may be seen as a human right, absolute or highly related to the right to refuse professional medical treatment

You most welcome dear Dr. Gulzar Shah for comment and recommindations. We all here to gain more informations and knowledge about any thing and contribute with more friends.

With high appreciation.

Dr. Y. A. Salih

Very harmful. Even doctors do mind in allowing nurse practioners to prescribe drugs to patients. By the way, self-medication? Oh no, the older adults with a low cognitive ability are highly likely to be killed by the self-medication.

I have seen self medicine in highly educated population

and repeated the same medicine given on previous occasions

this practice is very common in Pakistan

Hi Gulzar.

Educate people to consult specialists before proceeding with self-medication. In addition, education must have a job and decent care insurance to avoid self-medication

@Alaa Javed, Jose Luis Da Silva thank you for your participation in this discussion.

Dear Jose Luis Da Silva , hi and thanks for sharing your insights.

Doctor earn a degree to treat a small disease by spending a decade ,showing self medication uselessness.

Self medication is totally wrong.

Helpful

It is not helpful, except if a test has been carried out on an individual and he/she is a medical practitioner who knows which medications to take.

Very harmful, but in case of emergency for same patient, for same disease (after gap of some time)same medicine is taken