Introduction:

the excessive consumption of drugs or polypharmacy constitutes a health problem on a global scale. Prolonged use of these drugs outweighs the risks or adverse effects that they could provide (only appreciable in situations of obvious need).

Objective:

to characterize self-medication in state leaders in the Provincial Delegation of Agriculture of Cienfuegos.

Methods:

an observational, descriptive, retrospective cross-sectional study was carried out with leaders regarding self-medication in the Provincial Delegation of Agriculture of Cienfuegos. The universe was made up of 23 people. The variables age, sex, compliance with medical treatment, medication consumed with and without a prescription were used. It used the descriptive statistic.

Results:

male sex predominated (14 people; 60.86 %). The age group 40-59 stood out with 11 people (54.80 %). Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors are the most widely used drugs under medical indication (8 people; 34.78 %). 11 cases complied with the treatment (73,33 %). Pain was the most frequent symptom (19 people; 82.60 %). Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are consumed more without medical indication (17 cases; 80.95 %).

Conclusions:

self-medication is a daily practice that is carried out consciously; even if its subsequent complications are unknown. The consumption of medication without the authorization of the physician responds to the type of injury or condition to be treated; where there is no distinction between both sexes.

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