Over-the-Counter Medications

Over-the-Counter medications, or OTCs, are drugs that you can buy without a doctor’s prescription. You usually can buy it from local grocery or drug stores. Generally, OTCs are safe and effective for public use.

In the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reviews and approves drugs for OTC use. The U.S. has more than 80 classes of OTC medicines. Although OTC medications are safe for the general population, they can be contraindicated for people with certain diseases. Pregnant and breastfeeding women always should talk to their doctor before taking any medication.

Drug Facts label

Before using the OTC medications, you should always read the Drug Facts label. The former gives essential information about the drug:

• PRODUCT NAME
• ACTIVE INGREDIENTS: the part of the drug that works
• PURPOSE: product category (such as antihistamine, antacid, etc.)
• USES: what the medicine is for
• WARNINGS: when you should talk with the doctor first, when you shouldn’t take the drug, things to avoid when taking this medicine, side effects, consult before taking if you are breastfeeding or pregnant, keep away from children
• DIRECTIONS: how much to take, how to take, how often and how long to take
• OTHER INFORMATION: how to and where to store
• INACTIVE INGREDIENTS: parts of the pill that help to keep its shape, color, or flavor

Tips for using medicine safely

• Read the drug facts label carefully.
• Read the label every time that you take the medicine.
• Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about the medicine.
• Keep a record of what you use (OTCs, prescription medicines, vitamins, etc.). Make sure your family members know where the list is in case of emergencies.
• Make sure that all your doctors (if you have more than 1) have the list of all your medicines that you take.
• Before adding something new, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. They can help avoid drugs that don’t mix well with each other.
• Don’t take someone else’s medicine, whether it is OTC or prescription.
• Choose the medicine that treats only the problem that you have.
• Use the exact dose that is given in the label.
• Use only as long as the label says.
• Keep the medicine in the original bottle or package.
• Keep out of reach of children and pets.
• Keep all medicines in a dry and cool place.
• For liquid forms, use only the measurement tools that come with the package (spoon, cup, or syringe).
• Don’t crush, break, or chew tablets and capsules that are not indicated for use that way.
• Use the medicine before the expiration date.

When to see a doctor

If you use OTC medications or want to start using them, talk to your healthcare provider if

• You already take prescription medicines. Some drugs can interact with each other and harm your health.
• You take OTC in the right dose, and it seems not to be working.
• You want to use the OTC longer than the label says.
• You experience side effects of the medicine.
• You have some concerns about the drug that you take.

Questions to ask your doctor

• How do OTCs interact with the prescription medicine that I take?
• Should I worry about drug allergies?
• Is there any way to prevent side effects of OTCs?
• What OTCs are safe to use when I’m pregnant?
• What OTCs are safe to use when I’m breastfeeding?
• What OTCs are safe to use when I have chronic problems (high blood pressure, heart diseases, asthma, diabetes mellitus, etc.)?

Giving medicine to your child

• Use your child’s weight to choose the right dose on the Drug Facts label.
• If you don’t know your child’s weight, use the age.
• Never guess a dose. Ask your pharmacist or a doctor if you can’t find the right dose for your child on the label.
• Don’t use the tablets or capsules that are considered for adults.

Drug interactions

Although drug interactions are generally rare and mild, they can cause unwanted effects and reduce drug effectiveness. Some drugs can also interact with foods and beverages or impact the health condition that you already have (high blood pressure, kidney disease, etc.).

Here are some common interaction cautions.

• Avoid alcohol if you are taking antihistamines, cough-cold products with the ingredient dextromethorphan, or drugs that treat sleeplessness.
• Do not use drugs that treat sleeplessness if you are taking prescription sedatives or tranquilizers.
• Check with your doctor before taking products containing aspirin if you’re taking a prescription blood thinner or if you have diabetes or gout.
• Do not give aspirin to your child with a cold or flu. It can cause life-threatening Reye syndrome.
• Do not use laxatives when you have stomach pain, nausea, or vomiting.
• Unless directed by a doctor, do not use a nasal decongestant if you are taking a prescription drug for high blood pressure or depression, or if you have heart or thyroid disease, diabetes, glaucoma, or prostate problems.
• People with diabetes should check the inactive ingredients more carefully to locate sugar-containing products, like cough syrups.
• Consult your doctor before taking antacids and NSAIDs if you have kidney disorders, high blood pressure, and heart disorders.

This is not the complete list of interactions. You should always check the Drug Facts label or talk to your doctor to get information about possible interactions.

The most commonly used OTC medications

• Pain relievers: acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen
• Medicines for heartburn and indigestion: omeprazole, lansoprazole, aluminum hydroxide, calcium carbonate
• Laxatives: bisacodyl, calcium docusate
• Antidiarrheal drugs: loperamide, bismuth subsalicylate
• Cough medicines: guaifenesin, dextromethorphan
• Antiallergic medicines: diphenhydramine, fexofenadine, loratadine
• Motion sickness medicines: dimenhydrinate, meclizine
• Nasal steroids: fluticasone, triamcinolone, mometasone
• Decongestants: pseudoephedrine, phenylephrine, oxymetazoline

Sources:
FDA
MedlinePlus