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India’s self-medication habit: You are not just treating a headache, you could be harming your liver
An investigative health article published on April 25, 2026, warns that self-medication with over-the-counter drugs, antibiotics, and online supplements is contributing to liver injury and acute liver failure in India. It cites data from 2021-2023 showing high NAFLD prevalence, rising drug-induced liver injury, and a large portion of the population self-medicating.
Why It Matters
With a large, unregulated supplement market and common self-prescription habits, there is a risk of silent liver damage that goes unnoticed until advanced disease.
Timeline
4 Events
April 25, 2026 article publication
April 25, 2026
The article 'India’s self-medication habit: You are not just treating a headache, you could be harming your liver' was published, featuring insights from Dr. Kavya Harika Dendukuri of Gleneagles Hospitals Hyderabad. It discusses cases of drug-induced liver injury linked to self-medication and warns that over-the-counter medicines, antibiotics, and online supplements can harm the liver, calling for greater awareness and periodic liver monitoring.
2023 report: High rate of self-medication in India
2023
A 2023 report estimated that nearly 60% of Indians self-medicate without consulting a doctor, making India the world's largest consumer of over-the-counter medications.
2022 study: Drug-induced liver injury linked to acute liver failure in India
2022
A 2022 study published in Hepatology Communications found that drug-induced liver injury accounts for several acute liver failure cases in India and that the number is rising.
2021 study: NAFLD affects nearly 30% of Indians
2021
A study published in the Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hepatology found that non-alcoholic fatty liver disease affects nearly 30% of the Indian population.