Abstract

The term self-medication refers to the use of non-prescriptive medicines, and usually ‎over the counter drugs (OTCs) for the treatment of certain diseases, without consulting ‎an expert and medical supervision. Self-medication is one of the most common risky ‎behaviors that adolescents are exposed to. In addition, the habits of this period, ‎probably, will continue to adulthood. According to the above, this study was conducted ‎with the aim of reviewing the self-medication in Iran and the world. In this paper, an ‎overview was conducted in terms of self-medication by medicines and the ‎determinants, the treatment of symptoms of diseases with self-medication, the ‎importance of self-medication, self-medication problems, the role of local pharmacies ‎and pharmacists, and the role of medication consumers in Self-medication. In addition, ‎legal controls, the prevalence of self-medication in Iran, and self-medication in ‎adolescents were investigated in this study. The results indicated that self-medication ‎was prevalent among adults and adolescents in developed and developing countries. ‎Self-medication is more prevalent among girls and women and as they grow it become ‎more and more. Mothers' education, parenting factors, family training, and ‎socioeconomic status are some of important factors affecting self-medication. ‎Pharmacists, parents, coworkers, and friends are the main sources for gathering ‎information on medicine to cope with headaches, colds and menstrual problems. In ‎addition, the media encourages adolescents and adults to take medication freely. ‎Monitoring the current process of self-medication can help‏ ‏‎ to have control over-‎consumption and drug abuse among adolescents and adults. Reviewing research not ‎only provides insight into generalized therapies and self-medication, but also it ‎explains factors such as easy access, and the lack of attention to prescriptions‎.