self-medication
noun
self-med·i·ca·tion
ˌself-ˌme-di-ˈkā-shən
plural self-medications
: the act or process of medicating oneself especially without the advice of a physician : self-treatment
For chronic coughs, self-medication with cough remedies is usually inappropriate, and most doctors discourage their use.—Consumer Reports
Hazard has a long tradition of self-medicating. Moonshine and marijuana, grown in its fertile soil, have long helped to blot out depression, boredom, even physical pain.—Debra Rosenberg
also
: a substance used for self-medication
Over half (57 per cent) of these medical centre patients reported using one or more over-the-counter medications in the previous month, with analgesics, cold and allergy products, and antacid products being the most common self-medications. —Antonia C. Lyons and Kerry Chamberlain
Cite this Entry
“Self-medication.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-medication. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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