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

Parker Posey has been winning raves playing his self-medicating wife, Victoria Ratliff, who seems to be oblivious to what her husband is going through. —Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 27 Mar. 2025

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

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