Tendency of Self-Medication among Students

Background: Self-medication practice (SMP) is the practice of taking medication without a doctor's prescription. The main issues with self-medication have been drug resistance, adverse drug reactions, resource waste, and major health risks, including fatalities. This study's primary goal was to determine how common self-medication is among Bangladeshi students and what factors are linked to it. Methods: A semi-interviewed study was conducted among 67 students in City University, Savar, Bangladesh, from April 20 to May 10, 2023. Purposive sampling was used in conjunction with a questionnaire to conduct this study. Results: A greater proportion of students—53, or 79.10 percent—self-medicated than those who chose not to seek therapy for their personal issues. The majority of students—35.82%—use tolfenamic acid as a self-medication for headaches or depression, whereas the smallest percentage—8.95%—use fluoxetine for anxiety and depression. Conclusion: Complying with this study, numerous studies also indicated that, most of the students practice self-medication. Increasing community knowledge of drug adverse effects and coordinating efforts across individuals, groups, healthcare facilities, and regulatory agencies are crucial.