Definition

Self-medication is a medication taken by an individual without medical advice. In other words the self-medication is a pharmaceutical treatment established by the patient himself without, first given notice or had a medical prescription. Over-the-counter medications are not necessarily harmless. This is the reason why it necessary to seek advice to his pharmacist because, as any drug, it may be harmful when it is poorly used. Often, some people use medication prescribed at another time for a condition (disease, Pathology) which seems similar. It is for example the case of antibiotics for which it is important to follow a medical prescription. Specifically the use of antibiotics is completely contraindicated virus. Indeed they are perfectly useless, with no action against the virus multiplication (reproduction). On the other hand, bacterial infection (proven by a search of the germ in issue in the laboratory) antibiotics taken without medical indication may not be effective and disrupt the immune defenses of the patient taking irrational medication.

Classification

The public drug (in English over the counter: beyond the counter or OTC) is a specialty sold in pharmacies and who has obtained an AMM (marketing authorization). It is a drug which belongs to self-medication and which is sold without a prescription. It is not reimbursed by the social security funds.The drug Council is a purchased without a prescription, but on the advice obtained in a pharmacy after discussion with a pharmacist. It is a drug which the price is negotiable and non-reimbursed by health insurance funds.The ethical drug is a drug with a sticker that is reimbursed by the social agencies and sold only in pharmacies on prescription. Commercially, the price of the ethical drug may be negotiable.