Perils of self-medication

Self-medication is a term used when someone takes medication without consulting a physician.

Some people see no problem with self-medication, even though it is extremely harmful and can be life-threatening in some cases. People who practice self-medication take medicines often referred to as ‘non-prescribed medicines. These are found in pharmacies, supermarkets, and other common outlets. Examples of such medication include painkillers, like paracetamol, ibuprofen, and aspirin, among others.

Let's look at a few risks involved with self-medication:

• Wrong dosage of medicine
• Dangerous complications from mixing medications
• Using the wrong medications
• Chances of getting addicted
• Incorrect self-diagnosis.
• Decreased antibiotic efficacy

A person relying on self-medication opens himself to the risks of inappropriate medication and unknown health issues.