Self-medication has been defined as the taking of drugs, herbs, or home remedies on one's initiative or the advice of another person, without consulting a medical doctor. Self-medication is a global phenomenon and a potential contributor to human resistance to antibiotics. The use of antimicrobials without medical guidance may result in a greater probability of inappropriate, incorrect or undue therapy, missed diagnosis, delay inappropriate treatment, pathogen resistance and increased morbidity. Don't get me wrong, Self-medication could be life-saving if the person/people using it have sufficient knowledge about any drug or medication before consuming or prescribing them to others. Self-medication should be seen as the desire and ability of people or patients to play an intelligent, independent and informed role. Families, neighbors, friends may prescribe drugs, or suggestions from an advertisement in a newspaper, social networks and magazines are common sources of self medications.
THE DANGER!!
Numerous risks especially, concerning health may arise with when you employ self-medication. Rather than consulting medical personnel to receive a proper diagnosis and treatment, many people tend to use supplements and other substances such as drugs and alcohol, to try to cope with the signs and symptoms they are experiencing. This practice can result in inappropriate treatment of symptoms, and conditions as well as potentially cause new conditions such as addiction. Noteworthy, Africans, especially Nigerians are known to turn to a form of self-medication when trying to treat common health issues, like mental health conditions, which requires appropriate medical intervention from a psychiatrist professional even when very few positive outcome has been recorded. We got to stop doing that.
SOME REASONS PEOPLE INDUGE IN SELF-MEDICATON
We understand that there are reasons someone might chooses to self medicate. Reasons as:
1. The cost of medical treatment, including doctor visits and medications
2. Fear of side effects from medications
3. Hiding or denying a condition
4. Misbelief of patients that illness can be managed better with self-care.
5. Educational status
6. Previously used prescription medicine that has been stored at home.
7. Advertising and by drug manufacturers and previous experiences with the symptoms or disease.
The practice of self-medication is increasing and becoming a threat to public health initiatives across the world. Globally, self-medication is reported to be on the rise. In developing countries people are mostly using non-prescription drugs e.g. painkillers like paracetamol, antacids to self medicate without supervision.
THESE CAN HAPPEN TO YOU BECAUSE OF SELF-MEDICATION
Few times, Self-medication may result in faster access to medicines and offer relief to patients, it is not a completely safe practice, and some risks can arise from it.
Here are some of the risks associated with self medications;
Inadequate or excessive dosage
Excessively prolonged usage
Incorrect route of administrations
Failure to seek appropriate medical advice
Incorrect choice of therapy
Incorrect self-diagnosis
Failure to self-diagnosis contraindications, interactions warnings and precautions
It can lead to antimicrobial resistance
Treating only the symptoms, thereby masking the underlying disease
Risk of dependence and abuse.
HOW TO PREVENT YOURSELF AND LOVED ONES
Some of the tips may help us prevent self-medication.
1. Always seek medical attention whenever you fall ill from a registered health care professional. Buy medicine from the pharmacy and Poisons Board licensed health facilities under the prescription of a doctor and ensure that you are only served by qualified personnel in these premises.
2. Never share your prescription medications with others or use someone's else prescription medications
3. Use all medicines as directed by a health professional.
4. Always store your medications securely to prevent others from using them and properly dispose of that are no longer in use
5. Be a good example to those around you by modelling these safe medication-taking practices and discussing the dangers of misusing prescription drugs with your family, friends, colleagues, and patients.
6. Learn from other people's mistakes.
PHARMACIES AND GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES HAVE ROLES TO PLAY
A point to note is that the pharmacist also plays a huge role in the issues of self-medication. In haste to make a lot of money, some pharmacists encourage people to buy their drugs without doctor's prescription. And in some cases, they even prescribe the drugs for their customers. This is wrong because the pharmacist is charged with the duty of dispensing drugs. It is the doctor that prescribes drugs.
Also, government and other regulatory bodies should supervise the sale of drugs by the wrong people in the country. They should ensure that they confiscate any drug sold on the roadside or by hawkers.
In conclusion, the right self-medication is beneficial for the governments, health authorities and patients. That's why, we can find a lot of OTC(Over The Counters) drugs such as aspirin, acetaminophen, vitamins all over the world, inappropriate self-treatment can cause a lot of personal problems from headache to osteoporosis, cancer and even death and difficulties in society such as resistance to antibiotics.
