Self-medication during Covid-19 pandemic: challenges and opportunities
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COMMENTARY
Self‑medication during Covid‑19 pandemic: challenges and opportunities Muna Malik1,2 · Muhammad Junaid Tahir1,2 · Razia Jabbar1,2 · Ali Ahmed3 · Rabia Hussain4
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
Self‑medication (SM) during COVID‑19 The World Health Organization (WHO) defines self-medication (SM) as the selection and utilization of medicines to treat self-recognized symptoms or ailments without consulting a physician [1]. It also includes the usage or re-usage of previously prescribed or unused drugs, direct purchasing of prescription drugs without consultation, and irrational use of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs [2]. SM is a significant concern globally, affecting both developed and developing countries [3, 4]. Various studies have indicated that SM is a common practice, with a prevalence of 32.5–81.5% worldwide [5]. The most commonly self-prescribed medications are analgesics, antipyretics, antitussives, antidiarrheals, calcium and vitamin supplements, anabolic steroids, sedatives, certain antibiotics, and many herbal and homeopathic remedies [3]. As of September 21, 2020, there were 30,905,162 confirmed cases of COVID-19 [6], and, to date, no definitive treatments or vaccines are available to treat or prevent this viral infection. This situation has increased the influence of social media regarding misinformation about medications, leading to public confusion and panic and increased use of SM, including home remedies, without established safety and efficacy [7, 8].
* Ali Ahmed [email protected] 1
Lahore General Hospital, Ferozpur Road, Near Chungi Amar Sidhu Ismail Naga, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
2
Ameer‑ud‑Din Medical College, Affiliated with University of Health Sciences, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
3
School of Pharmacy, Monash University, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, Bandar Sunway, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
4
Department of Social and Administrative Pharmacy, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Gelugor, Pulau Penang, Malaysia
Between 7 January 2020 and 1 June 2020, the increase in people’s interest in online SM information during the COVID-19 pandemic is reflected in the Google trend for searches on SM [9]. Suggestions of SM for COVID-19 may come from friends, family, neighbors, pharmacists, previous prescriptions, and the media. In developing countries, such as India, the use of SM with hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine without a prescription to prevent COVID-19 has been documented [12]. Later, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) declared the use of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine as being unsafe in mild-to-moderate COVID19 based on their therapeutic safety profile in COVID-19 patients [13]. Similarly, while UK researchers have declared dexamethasone to be a ‘life-saving drug’ in the treatment of severe COVID-19, the UK Minister of the National Health Service stressed that dexamethasone should only be used in critically ill patients and should not be used as an SM in mild to moderate cases due to its inherent safety problems [14]. Ivermectin is sold OTC in some
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