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What are the Dangers of Self-Medicating?

Anna T.
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Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 6,080
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Self-medicating can have serious consequences, such as severe illness, overdose, and death. People who decide how much and what kind of medicine they need to take and then proceed to take it without first consulting a physician are self-medicating. Sometimes people who are already taking a certain type of medicine mistakenly begin taking another type, either over-the-counter or prescription, without realizing that it causes a negative reaction when combined with the other drug they already take, and this can cause serious problems. In general, over-the-counter medicines are considered safe when used for their intended purposes and in the correct dosages, but people do occasionally make the wrong decisions about what drugs they need and how much.

Many people fail to consult with their doctors when they become ill and instead either look up their symptoms on the Internet to decide what they need to cure themselves or visit their drugstores to find something available over the counter designed to treat their specific symptoms. Another way that people occasionally self-medicate is by taking the advice of a friend or family member regarding their illnesses and treating their symptoms based on this non-medical advice. Some people also take leftover prescription drugs to treat things that are wrong with them because they assume their symptoms will be alleviated by something they took a long time ago that helped them. Self-medicating may be easier and more convenient to do than waiting in line at a doctor's office for legitimate medical advice, but many people die or become seriously ill every year as a result of this practice.

It is not uncommon for people to believe that over-the-counter drugs are not harmful because no prescription is required to attain them. Even though over-the-counter drugs are easy to get, they can be deadly, particularly when mixed with drugs that react badly with them or when they are taken incorrectly. Medicines available over the counter may not be as potent as drugs available by prescription, but they normally contain the same ingredients as their stronger prescription counterparts. Taking just a little more of a specific drug than what is recommended on the label could make it as potent as the prescription version. While self-medicating, people may regularly take as much of a certain medicine as they think they need and ignore the labels, which is an incredibly dangerous practice.

Even though it is true that doctors occasionally make mistakes, it is almost always safer for people to ask their doctors before taking anything to treat their symptoms. If a doctor is not immediately accessible, the advice of a pharmacist is typically recommended. There are hundreds of deaths each year that result from self-medicating, and in many cases these deaths could have been avoided if medical advice was initially sought.

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Anna T.
By Anna T.
Anna Thurman is a skilled writer who lends her talents to WiseGeek. Her ability to research and present information in an engaging and accessible manner allows her to create content that resonates with readers across a wide range of subjects.

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Discussion Comments
By Raynbow — On May 19, 2014

Certain health problems are more dangerous to self-medicate than others. For example, trying to self-medicate depression and anxiety can lead to dependency on illegal drugs and alcohol. Anyone who feels that he or she needs treatment for depression or other mental and emotional issues should definitely seek professional help before trying to figure how to treat these illnesses on their own.

By Ocelot60 — On May 18, 2014

People who self-medicate also run the risk of getting dependent on certain medications. They may not know the risks or be aware that these drugs can become addictive.

Before self-medicating, you should consult with a medical professional for advice. If you can't afford to see a doctor, many communities have clinics where people can go to get evaluated for the types of medications they need.

Anna T.
Anna T.
Anna Thurman is a skilled writer who lends her talents to WiseGeek. Her ability to research and present information in an engaging and accessible manner allows her to create content that resonates with readers across a wide range of subjects.
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