Exploring the Impact of Over-The-Counter OTC Medication on Mental Health Syndrome

Abstract

: OTC drugs are medications available without a doctor’s prescription and are frequently employed in the self-treatment of several conditions. However, their use in treating conditions such as mental health syndromes is questionable in terms of advantages and disadvantages. Plant preparations, such as St. John’s Wort, Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, antihistamines, and melatonin can be effective in the treatment of some mild depressive, anxiety, sleep disorder, or mood disorder symptoms. However, they do not replace the need for professional health services or medications prescribed for complicated diseases. Some of these drugs include interventions where symptoms are still not complicated, the use of these medications is easy, and patients can deal with the symptoms by themselves. In contrast, ailments such as accident abuse, failure to track the state of affairs, use of incompatible medicines, and aggravation of psychopathic symptoms point out the space where the challenges of self-treatment lie. This binary nature strengthens the need for caution, assurance of doctors, and understanding the limits of OTC drugs in mental health care.