OTC medications

Over-the-counter ("OTC") medicines, available without a prescription, help to combat a variety of conditions.  For example: asthma, headaches, pain, upset stomach, colds, constipation, pain, etc.  They help make us feel better and the notion of "danger" might not immediately come to mind when we take them, but it is prudent to remember that they contain active and inactive ingredients that can lead to adverse consequences.

We'd like to bring your attention to several common circumstances when extra care should be taken to reduce risks.  Best practice is to keep an updated list of prescription medications, supplements, natural and herbal supplements, and to share that list with your doctor and pharmacist, especially when you're considering starting on an OTC drug.

Overdosing

OTC medicines contain multiple active ingredients used to treat a variety of symptoms, so it is easy to inadvertently take too much, especially when mixing and matching products.  As well, some cold and allergy medicines contain common ingredients, which can again lead to unintentionally overdosing.

To add to the problem, symptoms of taking too much acetaminophen, for example, can take days to appear and they can mimic cold or flu symptoms, making it difficult to diagnose the underlying cause.  Toxic levels of acetaminophen (which can cause liver failure) could result by taking too much Tylenol and Theraflu at the same time, for example, as they both contain acetaminophen.

Be careful not to take more than the recommended dosage of a drug or supplement not only in one single product, but also when using multiple products for multiple symptoms.

Drug interactions

OTC medications can interfere with prescription medications by:

• having similar active ingredients and therefore causing you to take more medicine than needed. For example, taking Advil while also taking a prescription anti-inflammatory can lead to liver or kidney damage.
  
  
• making the prescription medication less effective or cancelling it out. For example, a decongestant such as Sudafed can raise blood pressure, reducing the effectiveness of blood pressure medication.
  
  
• change the way prescription medication works. For example, aspirin can cause thinning of the blood, leading to an additive effect with blood thinners.

These are just a few examples of drug interactions. Each situation is very specific (health condition, illnesses, age, etc.) and you are encouraged to talk with your doctor or pharmacist about your or your loved one's specific situation.

Drug/food interactions

Following recommendations about taking medications on a full or empty stomach can make the difference between having nausea and having the medication be absorbed properly by your body. 

Certain foods can interfere with the way a medication works.  For example, grapefruit juice or grapefruit can interfere with cholesterol reducing medications. Herbal supplements can also affect the way certain prescription medications work. 

Sometimes it's the combined effect of age and certain prescription drugs that can affect a person's ability to absorb important nutrients from food.  In such situations, a doctor or pharmacist should be consulted for supplement recommendations.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist if any foods are not recommended for your personal situation, given any prescription and/or OTC medications or supplements you take.

Addiction

OTC medicines are meant for short-term relief and their labels usually indicate the maximum number of days they can be taken safely.  Respecting the guidelines will reduce the chances of certain forms of mild addiction.

For example, taking Excedrin for migraine over an extended time can cause rebound headaches.  Or decongestant nose sprays, for example, can lose their effectiveness over time, requiring a higher dose to get the same relief.  Prolonged use of certain laxatives, for example, can lead to severe dehydration, internal organ damage, irritable bowel syndrome, and liver damage.

If you find that you need an OTC medicine for longer than the recommended time, consult with your doctor to reassess the situation before taking more than the recommended dosage.

Bottom line

Each person's situation is different, not only because of any prescription or OTC medications they use, but also due to many factors such as: current and past illnesses, family history, supplements used, alcohol intake, age, pregnancy, etc.

To minimize risk and avoid potentially serious, irreversible health problems, make sure that each of your doctors, specialists, and pharmacists are updated about what you take. This provides valuable information for them to better advise you about your health.

✧ This blog post is dedicated to Dot. ✧