Unmedicated

Unmedicated is an adjective describing a person or state in which no medications are being taken at a given time. The term can refer to prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, or other substances such as herbal remedies.

In medical and mental health contexts, people may be unmedicated for reasons including remission of symptoms, adverse reactions, personal preference, access barriers, or clinical decisions to try nonpharmacological approaches first. For example, some individuals with diabetes manage without insulin through diet and exercise; others with mood disorders may choose to forego antidepressants. In obstetrics, unmedicated birth denotes labor and delivery without analgesia or anesthesia.

In research, an unmedicated or untreated group serves as a control to measure the effects of a drug or intervention. The term also appears in pharmacology and pharmacovigilance to distinguish between treated and untreated states.

Potential advantages of remaining unmedicated include fewer drug side effects, lower cost, and greater sense of autonomy. Potential drawbacks include symptom relapse, reduced quality of life, or safety concerns if untreated conditions worsen. Decisions about being unmedicated depend on disease severity, risk tolerance, and support systems, and should involve appropriate medical guidance, especially when symptoms could pose risks to health or safety.

See also: medication adherence, nonadherence, natural childbirth, withdrawal, placebo-controlled studies.