Abstract

SELF MEDICATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Karna B. Khavane*, Vidya K. Magar, Sanjay Sharma and Santosh A. Payghan

Abstract

Self‐medication can be defined as obtaining and consuming drugs without the advice of a physician for diagnosis, prescription or surveillance of treatment. It aims to find the reason of self medication and make public aware about its effects and side effects. People use it for the treatment of any disease symptoms or minor ailments by their self initiative. The adverse consequences of such practices should always be emphasized to the community and steps to curb it. Rampant irrational use of OTC drugs without medical guidance may result in greater probability of inappropriate, incorrect, or undue therapy, missed diagnosis, delays in appropriate treatment and increased morbidity. There is need to augment awareness and implement legislations to promote judicious and safe practices. Improved knowledge and understanding about self‑medication may result in rationale use and thus reduce antibiotic resistance issues. The present review deals the reason, hazards, and prevention of potential risk associated with self-medication.

Keywords: Self Medication (SM), Role of Pharmacist, Allopathic drugs, OTC drugs, antibiotic resistance.