Self Medication Advantages and Disadvantages

Self-medication is the use of nonprescription medicines by people on their own initiative. Pharmacists have a key role to play in providing them with assistance, advice and provide information about medicines available for self-medication.

Advantages of Self Medication

• • • Help to prevent and treat symptoms and ailments that do not require a doctor.

• • • Reduce the pressure on medical services where health care personnel are insufficient.

• • • Increase the awareness of health care to populations living in rural or remote areas.

• • • Enable patients to control their own chronic conditions.

• • • Hay fever, headache, indigestion, mouth ulcer, nausea, cough, acne, allergic conjunctivitis can be treated by self medication.

• • • For healthcare systems as it facilitates better use of clinical skills, increases access to medication and may contribute to reduce prescribed drug costs associated with publicly funded health programs.

Recommended: 10 Reasons Why Finishing Your Antibiotic Course Is Important

Disadvantages of Self Medication

• • • Self medication is associated with risks such as misdiagnosis, use of excessive drug dosage, prolonged duration of use, drug interactions and poly pharmacy.

• • • Paracetamol, an antipyretic and analgesic in large doses can cause liver failure.

• • • Paracetamol toxicity is, by far, the most common cause of acute liver failure.

• • • Valsartan is an anti-hypertensive drug. It is highly effective when used in recommended quantities. The main consideration is the over usage of the drug may cause hypo tension, which may eventually lead to heart failure and also hepatic and renal failure.

• • • The diagnosis may be wrong.

• • • The drugs may cause side effects.

• • • Financial losses – delayed recovery is ultimately more costly.

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