Is Self-Medication really that dangerous?

Yes, self medication is extremely dangerous and sometimes it can put your life at risk. It is easier to consume Over-The-Counter(OTC) medicines than to spend and visit a doctor to alleviate the symptoms of common ailments. Consuming medicines without a doctor’s prescription, even if the illness is minor, could have grave repercussions.

What is self-medication?
Self-medication refers to the exercise of using over-the-counter drugs or prescription drugs without consulting a practising physician first.

We often consume pills for common health issues like cold, cough, fever, headache and body pain, without bothering to visit a doctor first. A lot of people don't realise it, but a large number of these over-the-counter drugs can cause allergies, addiction, vitamin poisoning and habituation. Another rising problem across the globe is antimicrobial resistance, especially in a country like India where antibiotics are so easily available, sometimes even without a prescription.

The risks of self-medication include:
Chance of developing a serious addiction
Flawed diagnosis
Chance of drug abuse
Mixing too many such medicines, which may do irreversible damage
Might mask the symptoms of a life-threatening condition
Side-effects of different kinds
Wrong dosage might lead to accidental overdose
Sometimes mixing OTC medicines can result in unwanted health concerns
In the worst-case scenario, self-medication can even lead to serious health issues or even death

In some cases, people actually mean well and set out with right intentions, but end up consulting the internet instead of a doctor. In rare cases this works but in some it can create grave consequences. The internet has a lot of information on it, some of it is verified while a large portion of it isn’t. People assume that everything they read is right and usable, in this process they go on to advise and medicate other people as well. This can lead to serious issues not just for that person but for everyone around them.

Talk to a doctor!
Talking to a doctor is the most sensible thing to do. No-matter how big or small an ailment is, visit a doctor and let them diagnose you. You can save yourself a world of trouble by just talking to your doctor.