self-medicate

verb

self-med·​i·​cate ˌself-ˈme-di-ˌkāt 

self-medicated; self-medicating; self-medicates

1

transitive : to treat (something) by self-medication

people who attempt to self-medicate depression

2

intransitive : to treat oneself by self-medication

self-medicated with analgesics to control arthritic pain

These courts are a lifeline for veterans, many of whom struggle with post-traumatic stress and brain injury when they return home after serving, often using drugs and alcohol to self-medicate.

—Claire Handscombe

Examples of self-medicate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

After an accident disrupts her career at its apex in 2019, Leonova first self-medicates but eventually must address her choices. —The Know, The Denver Post, 9 Mar. 2025

Gwyneth Paltrow admitted to self-medicating with alcohol to deal with the stress from the Los Angeles fires in January. —Janelle Ash, Fox News, 6 Mar. 2025

He self-medicated with weed, forced Chelsea to go to a snake show, and promptly freaked out. —Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 3 Mar. 2025

For those experiencing unexplained upper abdominal pain, doctors recommend seeking medical advice instead of self-medicating with antacids. —Jonathan Granoff, Newsweek, 29 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1902, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for self-medicate

• abbreviate
• accelerate
• accommodate
• accumulate
• acuminate
• adjudicate
• adulterate
• affiliate
• agglomerate
• agglutinate
• alleviate
• amalgamate

Medical Definition

self-medicate

verb

self-med·​i·​cate -ˈmed-ə-ˌkāt 

self-medicated; self-medicating

transitive verb

: to treat by self-medication

the patient had attempted to self-medicate depression

intransitive verb

: to treat oneself by self-medication

patients with dental pain often self-medicate with analgesics