Abstract

Introduction: The unauthorized purchase of scheduled drugs without prescriptions is a significant concern. The educational background of individuals plays a crucial role in determining their tendency towards self-medication. Medical students are particularly susceptible to self-medication due to their easy access to drug information and medications. This study aimed to investigate the self-medication patterns among medical students. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted among medical students of an Indian medical College, using a questionnaire-based interview approach. Results: Out of 289 students interviewed, 66.78% practiced self-medication, while 24.57% followed prescribed treatments. The prevalence of self-medication was significantly higher. Monotherapy was more common among students who self-medicated, whereas polytherapy was more prevalent among those adhering to prescriptions. There was a notable difference in the satisfaction levels reported between self-medication and prescribed medication users. Conclusion: Self-medication among medical students was notably high, but the outcomes were generally unsatisfactory to them.

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