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

The risks of self-medicating or following unverified advice are significant. —Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 19 Aug. 2025

As in heart racing, breaking out in a cold sweat, and having to self-medicate with a large Dairy Queen chocolate dipped ice cream cone scary. —Sherry Kuehl, Kansas City Star, 13 Aug. 2025

Greg’s self-medicating, family members said, didn’t begin until the last year of his life. —Christopher Kamrani, New York Times, 24 July 2025

Ozzy Osbourne on 'self-medicating' with yearslong substance abuse Osbourne's battles with addiction have led to infamous moments in music history. —Edward Segarra, USA Today, 23 July 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