SELF MEDICATION: KEY COMPONENT OF MEDICATION ERRORS

Hemalata Dol*, Vikram Shinde, Sanket Gandhi and Sangita Shelar

ABSTRACT

Out of the several, the self-medication is one of the most important cause which leads to medication errors. Self-medication is defined as the activity of obtaining and consuming drugs without the advice of a physician either for diagnosis or surveillance of treatment. It moves patients towards greater independence in making decisions about management of minor illnesses, thereby promoting empowerment. A number of reasons could be enumerated for the rise of self-medication. These include: socioeconomic factors, lifestyle, illiteracy, ready access to drugs, the increased potential to manage certain illnesses, Advertisement on Television, newspapers, demographic and epidemiological factors. The most commonly available OTC medications are pain killers, antacids, cough and cold remedies, anti-allergy medicines, vitamins and energy tonics. Although these medications are considered risk free and useful for the treatment of common health problems, their excessive use can also lead to serious side effects and unfavourable reactions. There are several drug stores, which provide the medicine without any prescription and its percentage is increasing day to day in India. Presently the frequency is high of self medication by the young ones and literate people who do not have much time to go to physician. This conclude the benefit and drawback of drugs, their safe use and role of pharmacist as communicator, quality drug supplier, trainer and supervisor, collaborator and health promoter for safe self medication to ensure patient safety.

Keywords: Self Medication (SM), Role of Pharmacist, OTC, medicines.