Definition:
Pharmacophobia otherwise known as fear of medicine or fear of taking medicines is a persistent and unwarranted fear of taking medicine or drugs. This is an abnormal state of the mind which each year causes many people distress.
Diagnosis:
Diagnosis can be done by a psychological test.
Treatment:
Treatment may include admitting oneself for psychiatric therapy where a psychiatrist can help him cope up with his fears. Telling him of the good things about medicines and often avoiding bad ones.
Symptoms and Signs:
Symptoms includes anxiety and unexplained uneasyness when told to take medications. People with this disorder tend to stay away from being sick because it makes them sick or thinking that they will have to take medication to get well. They will also have an obsessive-compulsive behavior towards him being clean enough and healthy enough not to be sick.
Causes:
The cause of such abnormality can be attributed to any experience, may it be personal or that of someone they knew or have seen, involving an unpleasant encounter with medicines. It may also have to do with social norms of the community the patient is living in.
The information on this site is for research purposes only and can not substitute for the advice of a medical professional. Ailments.com is not run by doctors and does not engage in the practice of medicine. Our site is not a medical authority, it is just a research tool for you to use in preparation for consulting with a doctor. We can not guarantee our information is accurate or up to date. Even if a statement made about a medical condition is accurate, it may not apply to you or your symptoms, so you should always consult a doctor. Nothing on our site should be construed as an attempt to offer or render a medical opinion or otherwise engage in the practice of medicine.
