THE IMPLICATION OF SELF- MEDICATION

IBRAHIM ABDULWASIU writes:

Self-medication is a common Nigerian behavior in which an individual takes drugs
or xenobiotics without a prescription from a doctor or physician.

These medicines are found in pharmacies, supermarkets, and other outlets. The
most available self-medicated drugs are often regarded as over the counter drugs,
these drugs are also sold by the roadsides in Nigeria and are used to treat common
illnesses at home.

These drugs are regarded as over the counter drugs because they do not require
doctor’s prescription before use but in Nigeria numbers of other drugs which are
also not available as over the counter drugs are also self-medicated.

Most Nigerians take drugs without the prescription of a doctor for a number of
reasons, while some aim for a reduction in the time and cost of clinical
consultation, others simply trivialize illnesses and resort to self-medication.

Other factors could be due to personal insecurities and fear of job loss due to
diagnosed disease, mental illness, quick relief of pain, depression or even
ignorance

Medications categories mostly used in self-medication in Nigeria are as follows:

1. Anti-biotics.
2. Anti-malarials.
3. Analgesics.
4. Cough Syrup
5. Weight gain and weight-reducing agents.
6. Multivitamins.
7. Skin bleaching cosmetics.

Dangers of self-Medication

Self-medication might seem right at first but its dangers are of high weight. Self
medication can lead to several potential adverse effects which includes:

Drug resistance

Liver damage

Kidney problem

Cancer

Systematic effect. E.t.c

Solutions on how to stop self-medication:

Consult a Doctor

Learn from other people’s mistakes

Seek help from people around

Self-motivation. E.t.c

Ibwas

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