This question was originally posted on Quora.com and was answered by Amy Chai, MD, Internal Medicine, MS Epidemiology Of course. It would be stupid for us to see a doctor and then tell the doctor what we need, then pay the doctor to give us what we asked for. Plus, we have to take time off work. Not to mention that we often have shitty medical insurance and it is costly to go to the doctor for us just as much as it is for you. Self prescribing saves time, money, and helps stop global warming. People think that you “won’t be objective,” etc etc but that is actually a pile of crap. I think just as effectively when I am evaluating myself (or a family member) as I do when evaluating a patient. But then again, I am “maternalistic.” (I am very careful and thorough, taking no risks) There is some stigma to self prescription, but it is based on priggish notions that people ought to be told what’s what by someone else. Kind of like the nanny state philosophy. I hope you can’t tell that I am a Libertarian. Maybe you can. I hate being told what to do by pretty much anyone. Prescription for xanax? Probably not. Doctors throw back a scotch instead, because xanax looks bad, even though it is safer and has fewer calories. No to the sleeping pills, stimulants and narcotics as well. Even though I personally think that these meds have been somewhat “overly stigmatized” by the establishment, they do have an addictive potential and so need to be regulated a bit more closely. So doctors do NOT write scheduled drugs for themselves or their family members. That is a reasonable compromise. Source
