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self-medication

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Also known as self medication

Self-medication, sometimes called do-it-yourself (DIY) medicine, is a human behavior in which an individual uses a substance or any exogenous influence to self-administer treatment for physical or psychological conditions, for example headaches or fatigue.

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Self-medication
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~23 min read

Article

19 sections
Contents
  • Definition
  • Psychology and psychiatry
  • Self-medication hypothesis
  • Specific mechanisms
  • CNS depressants
  • Alcohol
  • Psychostimulants
  • Opiates
  • Cannabis
  • Effectiveness
  • Infectious diseases
  • Other uses
  • Physicians and medical students
  • Children
  • Regulation
  • See also
  • References
  • Further reading
  • External links

Self-medication, sometimes called do-it-yourself (DIY) medicine, is a human behavior in which an individual uses a substance or any exogenous influence to self-administer treatment for physical or psychological conditions, for example headaches or fatigue.

The substances most widely used in self-medication are over-the-counter drugs and dietary supplements, which are used to treat common health issues at home. These do not require a doctor's prescription to obtain and, in some countries, are available in supermarkets and convenience stores.

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