Drugs that most frequently used for self-medication were antibiotics (31%), analgesics (23%), antipyretics (18%), antiulcerics (9%), cough suppressants (8%), multivitamins (6%), and anthelmintics (4%).
Self-Medication Defined. Self-medication is where the individual uses self-soothing types of behavior to treat an undiagnosed mental health condition. One behavior that offers a soothing effect is substance abuse. The individual is able to turn to alcohol or drugs to get temporary relief from their problems. The self-medication theory of addiction suggests that the individual will be attracted to different substances on the basis of their symptoms: * People with symptoms of anxiety can be attracted to alcohol or sedative type drugs because they produce feelings of relaxation. And the same goes for the plethora of things we think drugs and alcohol do. It is said that alcoholics and drug addicts are “self-medicating” their anxiety, depression, trauma, stress, other mental disorders and “underlying issues” or “underlying causes of addiction” with drugs and alcohol. Some say these “underlying issues” directly cause substance use. There is a very simple answer: realize that drugs and alcohol do not work as medications for these problems. They simply don’t act this way. If you can really understand this, you will not be motivated at all to use them as medication – no matter how bad your stress, anxiety, depression, and other problems get. Generally speaking, self-medication is defined as the use of drugs to treat self-diagnosed disorders or symptoms, or the intermittent or continued use of a prescribed drug for chronic or recurrent disease or symptoms. According to the self-medication hypothesis (SMH), the individuals' choice of a particular drug is not accidental or coincidental, but instead, a result of the individuals' psychological condition, as the drug of choice provides relief to the user specific to his or her condition. By Theodoros Manfredi | Medicine | Rating: We've often heard of people who 'self-medicate' and generally this is a term that is used with negative connotations. Partly the reason for this is that the things people choose to self-medicate for and their chosen 'medications' are not fully advisable. Self-Medication for Pain. Many people will use analgesics (painkillers) in order to self-medicate for pain and this is considered normal. If you can use a paracetamol in order to help yourself cope with a headache or back ache then this is a good idea and will have relatively few consequences if any. The type of drugs most frequently used for self-medication were antibiotics (31%), analgesics (23%), antipyretics (18%), antiulcerics (9%), cough suppressants (8%), multivitamins (6%), and anthelmintics (4%). According to the self-medication hypothesis (SMH), the individuals' choice of a particular drug is not accidental or coincidental, but instead, a result of the individuals' psychological condition, as the drug of choice provides relief to the user specific to his or her condition. For other uses, see Self-medication (disambiguation) . Self-medication is a human behavior in which an individual uses a substance or any exogenous influence to self-administer treatment for physical or psychological ailments. The most widely self-medicated substances are over-the-counter drugs and dietary supplements. According to the self-medication hypothesis (SMH), the individuals' choice of a particular drug is not accidental or coincidental, but instead, a result of the individuals' psychological condition, as the drug of choice provides relief to the user specific to his or her condition. Self Medication Theory of Addiction. The self-medication theory of addiction suggests that it is this attempt to self-soothe with alcohol and drugs that eventually leads to addiction. Once the individual realizes that these substances give them some relief they can start to abuse them more and more. The self-medication theory of addiction suggests that the individual will be attracted to different substances on the basis of their symptoms: * People with symptoms of anxiety can be attracted to alcohol or sedative type drugs because they produce feelings of relaxation. This is mental health awareness month. Which means, in my experience, that it is still, to some extent at least, alcohol awareness month. Many people who suffer with undiagnosed depression or anxiety reach for alcohol or drugs to calm their nerves or relieve them of emotional pain. In other words, they self-medicate. Rather than seek out some help in managing depression, anxiety or chronic resentment, they seek their own solution -- a solution which, while it works pretty well for a while, eventually complicates the issues and leads to more pain. Recreational Drugs. Other ways to self-medicate for depression can include the use of drugs and these might be either pharmaceutical or recreational. The use of recreational drugs to treat depression will often mean using ecstasy/MDMA which causes euphoria and thereby can improve mood to a great degree. Self-Medication for Pain. Many people will use analgesics (painkillers) in order to self-medicate for pain and this is considered normal. If you can use a paracetamol in order to help yourself cope with a headache or back ache then this is a good idea and will have relatively few consequences if any. Medically Reviewed by George Krucik, MD. Depressed people often try to self-medicate their problems away. Learn how to identify forms of self-medication and find out what you can do to help. For many depression sufferers, obtaining treatment can be costly and time-consuming. 
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