Self Medication Research Paper

Drugs and dietary supplements that are widely used for self-medicating include alcohol, cannabis, psychostimulants, prescription drugs, caffeine, over the counter drugs/supplements, and food. I personally have a tendency to self-medicate when I'm sick. I will take cold and flu meds, pepto bismol, and ibuprofen. I also take vitamins and fish oil daily. However, if I'm too sick and I know it is something serious, I will not hesitate to go to the doctor.

Yes, people can inhibit the effectiveness of their psychoactive medications by using certain self-medication techniques. For example, alcohol consumption can counteract the benefits that are obtained from antidepressants. Furthermore, make symptoms worse. It is very important to ask your doctor or pharmacist what you can and cannot take in combination with your prescribed medication. If it wasn't important then it wouldn't always be emphasized in every drug commercial and doctor's office. Furthermore, warnings are posted on nearly all OTC and prescription drug containers. I learned in my past ecology class that U.S. regulatory systems follow the innocent until proven guilty method, with exception to prescription drugs. Thus, …show more content…
I do not think that vitamins or supplements should be restricted, but instead, should be strictly