Self-medication: The disadvantages, dangers

For diverse reasons, self-medication has become rampant in the society. It is now a common trend for people, whenever they are ill, to source over-the-counter drugs or simply proceed to treat themselves of self-diagnosed symptoms, without consulting medical professionals. Many people opt for this method because they feel it is cheaper and easier. Some of the reasons those engaging in this act give include, economic and social. While some say the economic hardship is forcing them to do this, others see going to the hospital or consulting medical practitioners a waste of time.

Ashaolu Omoniyi is a Biochemistry student of Yaba College of Technology, Lagos. He is one of those that regularly engage in self-prescribed drugs to treat every illness.He said: “I can’t even remember the last time I visited the hospital. The only sickness I often have is malaria, and anytime I am down with it, I just walk into any nearest chemist to get pain killers and antibiotics and I will be okay. The economic situation of the country does not encourage someone like me to visit the hospital. Why should I go to the hospital to treat common malaria, when I can treat myself? As a student, you don’t expect me to use the little feeding money I have on drugs or paying any doctor for consultation.”

Similarly, Paschal Ojogbane, a banker with a GTB branch in Lagos, told The Guardian that he rarely consults medical practitioners, whenever he is sick, as he believes in self-medication.

“For cases such as malaria, buying drugs without prescription is not bad. Overtime, I have come to know that anti malaria and vitamin C are the general drugs for treating malaria and they work well for me,” he said. “These are not serious, life-threatening cases. I only go to my family hospital, when I have a major health challenge that I can’t handle. To be honest with you, with the current state of the economy, going to hospitals and paying consultation fee and all other fees just to see a doctor, is difficult.”

Peace Sholanke, a hair-stylist in Bariga, a Lagos suburb, does not also go to the hospital when ill. As her only sickness is malaria, she feels there is no need wasting scarce resources on paying doctors. She has her own unique method of curing herself, whenever the illness strikes.

“Whenever I have malaria, I take anti malaria tablets, cough mix, antibiotics, blood tonic and another drug, which I cannot readily remember now. This is the same combination with which I treat my children anytime I notice they are not feeling fine,” she said.

But experts are saying that the disadvantages and dangers of self-prescription or self-medication are often life threatening, which most Nigerians failed to understand.
Dr. Okaiwele Oseyi Emmanuel, a senior Registrar at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, explained to The Guardian that some of the reasons Nigerians indulge in self-medication is due to its convenience and cost reduction, among others.

“Often times, people fail to realise that the dangers in it are greater than the benefits. These include: incorrect self-diagnosis, delays in seeking medical advice, as soon as it is needed, dangerous drug interactions, incorrect choice of therapy, drug dependence and abuse. Other risks are, incorrect manner of administration and the masking of a severe disease, which could progressively worsen before appropriate treatment is sought and initiated,” he explained.

In his view, it is ironical that many patients still consult doctors after trying self-medication, but in many cases, such late attempts could be fatal.“If a patient has already self-medicated, it is difficult for us to deal with a good diagnosis. Then, the patient could also develop certain resistance to certain drugs. So, if we prescribe another medicine, it will not react efficiently,” he said.

Researches have shown that self-medication is not on the increase only in Nigeria, as nationals of most developing countries, where the economy is not good and their governments don’t provide adequate healthcare indulge in it. “This is because there is less restriction on over-the-counter drug purchase,” Okaiwele said. “Another factor contributing to this is widespread poverty, because it is cheaper to self medicate than consult a health professional.”

He, however, advised that considering the dangers inherent in self-medication, it should be discouraged at all levels. It is imperative that individuals consult health professionals for correct diagnosis and treatments, as this would help prevent unnecessary and dangerous drug interactions and resistance. It would also help to prevent long-term consequences of self-medication such as liver or kidney failure, which are debilitating and expensive.

To tackle the problem, experts are advocating that the practice be reduced through massive and continuous enlightenment on the demerits and dangers of self-medication. Also, it can be reduced by restricting the sale and purchase of drugs, which are potentially harmful to members of the public by making it illegal for pharmacies to dispense without a doctor’s prescription.

Though the agency saddled with the task of controlling the distribution and use of drugs, the Nigerian Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has recently increased its supervision of drug markets, especially with regards to the sales and distribution of fake, substandard and expired drugs, experts are, however, of the opinion that more efforts need to be put into the restriction of sale of drugs, which ordinarily should not be over-the-counter.

“The National Orientation Agency (NOA) should also put more efforts into educating the public about the dangers of self-medication with television and newspaper adverts and radio jingles,” Okaiwele said.