Self-medication in general ailments and its potential risks

Self-medication is thought to be very widespread, especially among adults and teenagers. It is the practice of using medications to treat conditions or symptoms that one has recognized or diagnosed oneself. The area of healthcare involving self-medication is becoming more and more significant. Self-medication is widely used for many common illnesses, including headaches, common cold, flu and diarrhea. During the COVID-19 pandemic, self-medication was also discovered to be very prevalent. However, self-medication with antibiotics is not considered as safe. People may self-medicate due to socioeconomic factors like lifestyle, drug availability, or financial hardship. Individuals who cannot afford the cost of a doctor's visit or clinical services can self-medicate because it is a less expensive option. Self-medication does, however, come with risks, such as the potential for prolonged use, misdiagnosis, overdosing, polypharmacy and drug interactions. This review describes the use of various drugs as self-medications in general ailments, in COVID-19 as well as use of antibiotics as self-medication and various risks associated with the self-medication. Key words: Self-medication; Illness; COVID-19; Antibiotics; Headache Citation: Waqar MA, Riaz T, Munir M, Abid SZ, Tayyab S, Razaq A, Iqbal S, Yousaf A. Self-medication in general ailments and its potential risks. Anaesth. pain intensive care 2023;27(4):579−584. DOI: 10.35975/apic.v27i4.2089 Received: December 13, 2023; Reviewed: May 18, 2023; Accepted: June 21, 2023