A REVIEW ON SELF MEDICATION IN GERIATRICS
Keywords:
self medication practice, polypharmacy, multimorbidity, pathogen resistanceAbstract
Self medication is the practice of using drugs without doctor’s prescription. Nowadays this behavior is growing widely among people and the prevalence is high. As increasing age, body changes can affect the way medicines are absorbed and used. Geriatric population are more prone to use self medication practice due to lack of knowledge and commonly used for diseases like allergic rhinitis, common cold, osteoarthritis, heartburn, insomnia, constipation etc. Polypharmacy should be avoided. In situations where communication is lacking and the patient may receive medications from multiple prescribers for similar conditions, polypharmacy is particularly likely to occur. There is a need to develop a treatment infrastructure that is sensitive to problems of older substance users. This should include education of professionals as well as that of the public at large.
Keywords: self medication practice, polypharmacy, multimorbidity, pathogen resistance