The drugs you buy without a prescription are safe and effective—but dangerous if not taken correctly

Since over-the-counter (OTC) medications are available in grocery and convenience stores for a few bucks a pop, it’s easy to think these products are risk-free and safe for anyone to take at any time.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

“OTC medicines are safe when used as directed, but they can have serious risks if not used properly,” says Virginia Cox, senior vice president of communications and strategic initiatives at the Consumer Healthcare Products Association in Washington, D.C. “In fact, they should be taken as carefully as you take prescription drugs.”

Here are some recommendations to help you use OTC medications correctly.

• Read and follow the label. “Even if you’ve been taking an OTC product for years, you should read the label before you buy it and then again before you use it,” Cox advises. “Label instructions, dosage recommendations, and warnings can and do change from time to time.

  “The amounts and frequencies provided should be followed to the letter,” she says. “If a pain reliever says you should take it every four hours, taking it every two hours could be dangerous.”

  Drug facts labels list information in the following order:

  • Active Ingredients. This section lists the ingredients that make the medication work. “It’s especially important to pay attention to this section if you are taking more than one medicine—whether OTC or prescription—to make sure you are not taking too much of the same active ingredient,” Cox advises.
  • Purpose. This section specifies the type of medicine it is, such as an antacid or antihistamine.
  • Uses. This explains the symptoms or illnesses for which the product should be used.
  • Warnings. This section explains who should not take a medication, such as someone with heart disease. It also explains when to consult a doctor, possible side effects, and when to stop taking a product.
  • Directions. This tells you exactly how and when to take a medicine.
• Match the product to the symptom. “You should never take a medication for a symptom you don’t have,” Cox says. For example, if you have a cough and a runny nose, use a medicine that treats those symptoms. Don’t use a cough medication that treats these symptoms along with a fever.
• When in doubt, ask the pharmacist for help. Pharmacists can help you “compare and choose the best OTC drug for your symptoms and, most importantly, help you determine if you could have a condition or possible drug interaction with an OTC drug,” Cox says.

When to Call a Doctor
If you’re taking an OTC medication and have questions or concerns, call your doctor. Be sure to call if you:

• Have side effects that are worrisome, ongoing, or uncomfortable.
• Have a possible allergic reaction. While your doctor can address mild reactions—a rash, for instance, with no other signs of trouble—some reactions merit a call to 911. For example, if you take a pain reliever and have trouble breathing, call 911.
• The medication is not relieving your symptoms. Self-diagnosis and over-the-counter treatment are often fine for simple conditions like a cold or stomachache. But if your stomach pain is not getting better, something else could be going on, such as appendicitis or diverticulosis.

Barbara Floria spoke with Virginia Cox, senior vice president, communications and strategic initiatives at the Consumer Healthcare Products Association in Washington, D.C. For more information, visit www.OTCsafety.org.

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