Introduction

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 without a valid prescription. Self-medication is a global phenomenon⁴. Families, friends, neighbours, the pharmacist, previous prescribed drugs, or suggestions from an advertisement in newspapers or popular magazines are common sources of self‑medications. Major problems related to self‑medication are wastage of resources, increased resistance of pathogens and it causes serious health hazards such as adverse reaction and prolonged suffering. Antimicrobial resistance is a current problem world‑wide particularly in developing countries where antibiotics are available without any prescription. In India, it is very common to see self‑medication practice and is an emerging challenge to health care providers.⁶

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33. Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Self Medication among Medical Students; Mehta etal p-ISSN: 2320–1940 Volume 4, Issue 1 Ver. I (Jan.-Feb. 2015), PP 89-96.

Dr Gagan Gunjan

M.D. Gen. Medicine, S.R, AIIMS, Patna, India