Is Self-medication always a wrong course of action?

Illness and disease is an inevitable part of human life. Whether severe or mild, we keep on encountering an array of ailments at various spots of our lives.

Certain medical conditions, such as colds, cough, flu, headache, bodily pains, are so common that we do not want to visit a doctor for their treatment. Instead we try to treat them on our own so that our time and money is saved.

At times, because of our personal experiences, we become aware of the treatment of not that common diseases too. This knowledge enable us to self prescribe a medicine that a doctor might recommend otherwise. Often times, this approach proves effective.

For instance, I know quite well which medicine of what strength is to be given to my son if he has a tooth infection. It is because he has cavity in several teeth caused by plaque. Every few months one of the tooth becomes infected.

Because of his young age the dentist advised not to do anything with his teeth and wait for the natural replacement of milk teeth by permanent teeth. Nevertheless, when the cavity reaches deep inside the tooth, the infection begins with severe pain and swelling.

For a couple of times, in the beginning, I took my son to the dentist for this condition. Over time, though, I learned to manage the condition myself without any professional consultation.

Unfortunately, sometimes, it also happens that doctor fail to understand the unique problems of the patient and prescribe the drugs casually without considering the negative impact it may create on the person. For instance, a neurosurgeon prescribed a drug to my brother for migraine headaches that caused him digestive discomfort. Despite my brother informing him about the negative consequences it brought, the doctor prescribed a higher dosage of the same medicine. It proved to be devastating for his GUT health. It seems like doctors are not always that wise as we expect them to be.

Moreover, it also happens that the doctors fail to recognize the disorder accurately, and prescribe an inappropriate medicine without fully grasping the potential harm it may bring.

Years ago my father faced a medical condition in which he felt lethargic, drowsy and nauseous all the time. Despite visiting multiple doctors, none were able to diagnose the problem accurately, and he was continually given irrelevant treatment. Alarmingly, one of the doctors prescribed a drug meant for epileptic patients, which could have posed a serious risk to his neurological health. Thankfully, another doctor intervened on time, and advised to cease the usage of that medicine immediately.

I have also had personal experiences where the doctors diagnosis and prescription were incorrect, while self-medication proved to be the right course of action. For instance, taking a path against the doctor's advice I diagnosed and treated the Jaundice of my son myself. It was the experience and observation of a mother that outshined the knowledge of a doctor.

There are several other instances where I have witnessed positive outcomes coming out of self-medication.

Nonetheless, I have also come across stories where self-treatment led to adverse effects. For instance, once a relative of mine took a laxative to relieve constipation. When she did not experience any bowl movement after a few hours, she took an additional dose of the same medicine. Later that night, she was abruptly awakened by an intense abdominal pain, followed by severe diarrhoea that refrained to stop. As a result of weakness caused by excessive loss of fluids, she fell on the ground. She told me that there was a black-out in front of her eyes, and dizziness in the head. She felt like she was at the verge of death. Thankfully, her husband was there to help and give her immediate treatment in those movements. The adverse effects she faced was the result of an over dosage. Had she waited patiently, there would not be such consequences.

Likewise, my mother-in-law once had a toothache. Instead of visiting a dentist she tried to treat the condition herself by using hot compress. It elevated the pain at once. Her face swelled and the pain became unbearable. Later, when she visited the dentist, he told to never use a hot compress for tooth problems.

To avoid pitfalls of self-medication, it is crucial to remain cautious and informed when treating any condition on our own. While self-treatment can be effective in several cases, it must be approached with a sense of responsibility and the potential risks involved.

For instance, I avoid the use of antibiotics as much as I can, as the excessive use of such medicines develop antibiotic resistance along with other side effects. Moreover, I remain prudent about the dosage ensuring that it does not exceed the recommended dose. For the purpose, I read the literature provided with the medicine carefully. Further more, I learn the lessons from the experiences of others too.

Additionally, I keep in my mind my past experiences and personal. For instance, I have noticed that a particular cough syrup works better for my younger son than it is for my elder one. As a result, I provide each of them with a different medicine tailored for their needs.

In conclusion, I believe self-medication is not as wrong a method of treatment as it is portrayed. In fact, at some instances, I have witnessed it to be a better course of action as compared to the prescription of the doctor. Nevertheless, there is a need to be mindful and informed while prescribing medicine on our own.

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This post is my participation for Hl-featured contest edition 1, week 130

Image created by me using Bing AI.