Exploration of self-medication practice in Pokhara valley of Nepal

Abstract Background Self-medication (SM) is the practice of consuming medication without the consultation of physician. The drugs most commonly self-medicated are paracetamol, analgesics, ranitidine, oral rehydration solution, antibiotics, etc. The objective of the study is to assess the SM status and its causes in Pokhara valley of Nepal. Method The study was conducted among the people residing in Pokhara metropolitan city. The study duration was of four months from April to June, 2018. The study population were patients attending health camps at four different areas. Structured questionnaire was used to collect demographics of the patients and the details of the usage of self-medication.Result Out of 200 patients, 38.2% patients were found to be self-medicating. The most common illness sought for SM was ache (headache, body ache) in 50% followed by cough and cold in 31% and gastritis in 23%. Paracetamol was the drug consumed by 16 subjects followed by cough syrup (n=14) and nimesulide (n=11). Lack of knowledge about the disadvantages of SM led to self-medication in 65% of respondents. The paramedics most commonly consulted for medication were pharmacists (60%). Conclusion The trend of SM is high in Pokhara valley. It’s high time the regulatory agencies should solve the problems. The federal government should formulate strict guidelines for appropriate use of the medications.