Family Doctor 2007 - (Page 31) feeling great OTC SAFETY OTC safety as simple as 1-2-3 At some point, most of us will buy an overthe-counter medicine. But with growing numbers of products on the market, choosing and using one can be confusing. Try this quick guide to protect yourself and your family. By Barbara L. Bittner Be sure to tell your doctor if you’re taking any OTCs. symptoms and common illnesses, they allow us to self-treat many medical problems as well as many health nuisances. But OTCs contain powerful ingredients that can be harmful if misused. So a word to the wise: Pay attention to labels, follow instructions and keep your medicine cabinet up-to-date. O ver-the-counter (OTC) medications — the kind you can get without a doctor’s prescription — play an important role in almost everyone’s wellbeing. By alleviating much of certain ingredients, like acetaminophen, decongestants and antihistamines. So ask the pharmacist what you can mix. While most people know to tell a doctor about all of their prescriptions, the same rules apply to OTCs. These drugs can interact with your current prescriptions. So you need to include them on the drug list you provide your family physician. (Make sure the list includes how often and how many of each capsule or pill you take.) When giving OTCs to children, never give an adult dosage. Read labels They provide a wealth of safety information. Beyond noting what conditions or symptoms this particular medicine addresses, the label will tell you how much to take, when to take it, and for how long. It will also let you know just what side effects to expect and what foods, health conditions and activities could be problematic while you’re on the medication. You may be told, for instance, not to drink alcohol, drive a car or operate heavy machinery. Or you may be warned that because of your pregnancy or high blood pressure, you need to talk to your doctor. If so, do so. But also make friends with your pharmacist. He or she is trained to explain OTCs to you. Store OTCs in a cool, dry place Experts recommend clearing the cabinet and restocking at least once a year. Throw away anything that’s past the expiration date; dispose of them where children and pets can’t get to them. Keep all products, including all medications, in their original containers. Where should you store OTC and prescription medicines? Most people keep them in the bathroom. But you might be surprised that the heat and humidity from showers and baths can cause drugs to deteriorate quickly. So lock them in a container and store them in a cool, dark, dry place, out of the reach of children. The top shelf of the linen closet is a good choice. Barbara L. Bittner is an editor living in Albuquerque, NM. Use OTCs wisely The same common-sense steps you employ for prescription medications should be employed for OTCs. Never take more than the recommended dose. Never take anyone else’s medication. Recheck the label every time you use your OTC to make sure you’re taking the right dosage. Also, if you’re taking several medications, check for duplicate active ingredients. By pumping your system full of both cold medicine and cough syrup, for example, you may be getting too ADDITIONAL INFORMATION American Academy of Family Physicians http://familydoctor.org/otc.xml U.S. Food and Drug Administration http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2000/200_med.html American Pharmacists Association http://www.pharmacyandyou.org Consumer Healthcare Products Association http://www.chpa-info.org familydoctor 2007 31 http://familydoctor.org/otc.xml http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2000/200_med.html http://www.pharmacyandyou.org http://www.chpa-info.org
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