self-administer
verb
self-ad·min·is·ter
ˌself-əd-ˈmi-nə-stər 
self-administered; self-administering; self-administers
: to administer (something, such as a drug) to oneself
can self-administer the drug with an inhaler
allowed to self-administer the test
Those regulations … also state that only a school nurse can apply medications, but exemptions exist that allow students in some cases to self-administer according to district guidelines.—
Jennifer Bogdan
Jennifer BogdanExamples of self-administer in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Under the new law, which takes effect next year, adult, mentally-capable patients who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness and are expected to die within six months can request and self-administer medication to end their lives.
—Elizabeth Crisp, The Hill, 20 May 2025
The concept was to make cervical cancer screening more accessible via telehealth and a test that could be self-administered at home, rather than at a doctor’s office.
—Bertha Coombs, CNBC, 9 May 2025
Connelly is accused of a bevy of misdeeds in the letter, including instructing West on how to self-administer nitrous oxide without any medical supervision or safeguards.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 1 May 2025
What effect will the policy change have on asthma patients?
Asthma and allergy doctors say that forcing patients to self-administer these drugs at home could have life-threatening consequences.
—Cody Copeland, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Mar. 2025
All of the mice were given opportunities to self-administer doses of a potent opioid.
—Richard A. Friedman, The Atlantic, 29 Nov. 2024
Lilly is offering single-dose vials that patients self-administer using a needle and syringe.
—Claire Bugos, Verywell Health, 11 Mar. 2025
However, videos posted on social media show that consumers have been able to purchase vials of glutathione and self-administer at home.
—Adrianna Rodriguez, USA TODAY, 6 Feb. 2025
In one study involving 22 people, ages ten to 21, with mild to moderate Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, Sahn and his colleagues had the participants self-administer VNS through the outside of the left ear for five minutes, twice per day.
—Stacey Colino, TIME, 10 Dec. 2024
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Elizabeth Crisp, The Hill, 20 May 2025
The concept was to make cervical cancer screening more accessible via telehealth and a test that could be self-administered at home, rather than at a doctor’s office.
—Bertha Coombs, CNBC, 9 May 2025
Connelly is accused of a bevy of misdeeds in the letter, including instructing West on how to self-administer nitrous oxide without any medical supervision or safeguards.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 1 May 2025
What effect will the policy change have on asthma patients?
Asthma and allergy doctors say that forcing patients to self-administer these drugs at home could have life-threatening consequences.
—Cody Copeland, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Mar. 2025
All of the mice were given opportunities to self-administer doses of a potent opioid.
—Richard A. Friedman, The Atlantic, 29 Nov. 2024
Lilly is offering single-dose vials that patients self-administer using a needle and syringe.
—Claire Bugos, Verywell Health, 11 Mar. 2025
However, videos posted on social media show that consumers have been able to purchase vials of glutathione and self-administer at home.
—Adrianna Rodriguez, USA TODAY, 6 Feb. 2025
In one study involving 22 people, ages ten to 21, with mild to moderate Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, Sahn and his colleagues had the participants self-administer VNS through the outside of the left ear for five minutes, twice per day.
—Stacey Colino, TIME, 10 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Self-administer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-administer. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
self-administer
transitive verb
self-ad·min·i·ster
-əd-ˈmi-nə-stər
: to administer (as a drug) to oneself
self-administered an analgesic
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