Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 22, 2026

Precision Implementation of Minimal Erythema Dose MED Testing to Assess Individual Variation in Human Inflammatory Response
Published on: October 3, 2019
Pharmacovigilance, risks and adverse effects of self-medication
Jean-Louis Montastruc1, Emmanuelle Bondon-Guitton2, Delphine Abadie2
1Service de pharmacologie médicale et clinique, centre Midi-Pyrénées de pharmacovigilance, pharmacoépidémiologie et informations sur le médicament, pharmacopôle Midi-Pyrénées, faculté de médecine, CHU de Toulouse, CIC Inserm 1436, 31000 Toulouse, France; Académie nationale de médecine, 75000 Paris, France.
Abstract:
Self-medication means resorting to one or more drugs in order to treat oneself without the help of a doctor. This phenomenon is developing fast. In this review, we will discuss the main definitions of self-medication; we will then present a few important characteristics of this therapeutic practice: prevalence, reasons, populations involved and drugs used. Whilst the theoretical risks of self-medication have been abundantly discussed in the literature (adverse effects, interactions, product, dosage or treatment duration errors, difficulty in self-diagnosis, risk of addiction or abuse…), there is in fact very little detailed pharmacovigilance data concerning the characteristics and the consequences of this usage in real life. This study therefore describes the all too rare data that is available: patients, clinical characteristics, "seriousness" and drugs involved in the adverse effects of self-medication. It also discusses leads to be followed in order to minimize medication risks, which are obviously not well known and clearly not sufficiently notified.
More Related Videos
10:17High-throughput and Comprehensive Drug Surveillance Using Multisegment Injection-Capillary Electrophoresis-Mass Spectrometry
Published on: April 23, 2019
11:17Multiplex Therapeutic Drug Monitoring by Isotope-dilution HPLC-MS/MS of Antibiotics in Critical Illnesses
Published on: August 30, 2018
Related Concept Videos
Pharmacovigilance
This process, termed pharmacovigilance, aims to detect, evaluate, and minimize harmful effects related to medication use. The data collection for pharmacovigilance depends on spontaneous reporting systems, where healthcare professionals or patients voluntarily report suspected ADRs.
In some cases, there...
Pharmaceutical Poisoning: Potential Scenarios
Drug Toxicity: Risk factors
Drug Toxicity: Overview
Drug toxicity: Idiosyncratic Reactions
Effects of Chemicals: Overview