OTC Does Not Always Spell SAFE
Over-the-counter (OTC) medications can have desirable effects that are just as significant as prescription medication. Americans purchase more and more OTC products each year as a significant number of prescription medications are converted to OTC status. Most consumers believe that OTC means safe. Not necessarily true. Some OTC products have potent effects that should be monitored by a doctor and pharmacist. Over 200,000 hospitalizations occur each year in the US that are associated with the use and misuse of OTC medication. Over half of adults admit that they have taken more than the recommended dose for over-the-counter drugs in the past.
Navigating the shelves of OTC pain relievers and cold remedies can be confusing. Concentrate on the symptoms you are experiencing and focus on only taking medication to relieve those symptoms. It is easy to choose a product that has “a little of everything” in it, but that is not necessarily best, especially if you are elderly or giving the medication to a child. Chronic ibuprofen or naproxen use can lead to stomach ulcers. Diphenhydramine can be very sedating and cause confusion and urinary retention in the elderly. Check with your pharmacist before purchasing and taking any OTC product along with prescription drugs and/or consuming alcohol.