Buenos Aires Medical College warns of serious risks from self‑medication

The Buenos Aires Province Medical College issued a technical report warning that self‑medication and indiscriminate use of over‑the‑counter (OTC) drugs pose concrete health dangers. It cites growing ease of access, advertising and cost‑cutting pressures that encourage people to treat OTC medicines as ordinary consumer goods.

The college stresses that “no medication is innocuous” and that self‑medication is “not a game”. Common hazards include accidental duplication of active ingredients – for example taking paracetamol together with a cold remedy that also contains paracetamol – which can cause severe liver injury. Simultaneous use of anti‑inflammatories such as ibuprofen, naproxen, aspirin or decongestants raises the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding, renal damage and cardiovascular complications, especially in older adults or those with pre‑existing conditions. The report also warns that self‑medication can mask symptoms, delaying proper diagnosis.