What are the guidelines for the safe use of OTC drugs?

Top 10 Tips for Safely Using Over-The-Counter Medicines

• Consult your doctor or pharmacist before purchasing an OTC product.
• Read the label carefully.
• Do not take medicines with the same active ingredients.
• Only treat the symptoms you have.
• Keep a current list of medicines you take.

What are the OTC medication label requirements?

The Over-the-Counter Medicine Label: Take a Look

• Active Ingredient. Therapeutic substance in product; amount of active ingredient per unit.
• Uses. Symptoms or diseases the product will treat or prevent.
• Warnings.
• Inactive Ingredients.
• Purpose.
• Directions.
• Other Information.

What are the guidelines for using medication safely?

Taking Medicines Safely

• Follow instructions. Read all medicine labels.
• Use the right amount. Don’t take a larger dose of a medicine thinking it will help you more.
• Take medicine on time.
• Turn on a light.
• Report problems.
• Tell your doctor about alcohol, tobacco, and drug use.
• Check before stopping.
• Don’t share.

What should you do before taking an OTC drug?

Here are five safety tips:

1. Read the label. This is a crucial first step.
2. Take the medicine exactly as directed. Ask a pharmacist or your doctor if you have questions about how to use an OTC drug.
3. Keep your doctor informed.
4. Be careful when taking more than one drug.
5. Don’t use a spoon to take the medicine.

What drug causes the most hospital visits?

It estimated that sedatives and anxiolytics were most often to blame, causing nearly 31,000 annual emergency department visits. Following those, antidepressants account for more than 25,000 visits, antipsychotics for nearly 22,000, lithium salts for 3620 and stimulants for 2779.

When medicines work together in a positive way?

An additive interaction occurs when medicines work together in a positive way. 13. A synergistic effect is the interaction of two or more medicines that results in a greater effect than when the medicines are taken alone.

What must be included on a medicine label?

All prescription medicine containers include information on the label including the patient’s name, the name of the medicine, dosage and instructions on how often to take the medicine. More detailed printed information about the medication is usually provided by the pharmacy when prescription medicine is dispensed.

What are six ways to use medicine wisely?

Ask questions. Keep a medicine list….Use Medicines as Directed.

• Read the directions on the label and ask your healthcare provider how much you should take and when.
• Never skip taking your prescription medicine. Talk to your healthcare provider before you stop taking your medicines.
• Only take the suggested dose.

What are 3 rules for medicine safety?

When giving medicine to your young child, follow these safety tips:

• Use medicine made only for children. Adult medicine may be harmful to your child.
• Read the directions.
• Turn on the lights and measure medicine carefully.
• Do not use expired medicines.
• Do not use someone else’s prescription medicine.

What is the most common side effect of over the counter drugs?

Most side effects are unpleasant. A few examples are nausea, dizziness, or bleeding in your digestive tract. Sometimes, side effects can be useful. For example, certain antihistamines can cause sleepiness.

What is the most common use of OTC medications?

Findings:Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines are used generally for treating minor illnesses. It is mainly used for the common acne, facial pain, congestion, runny nose, fever, headache, hoarseness, itchy eyes, sneezing, sore throat cough and cold, pain, diarrhea and stomach discomfort, ulceration among others.

How often should you mention OTC drugs to your doctor?

Drug-Drug Interactions. Many people neglect to mention their use of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs to their doctor or pharmacist. Drugs taken intermittently, such as drugs for colds, constipation, or an occasional headache, are mentioned even less often.

Do you ignore the label when taking OTC medicine?

FDA and the Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) have prepared the following information to help Americans take advantage of self-care opportunities. You wouldn’t ignore your doctor’s instructions for using a prescription drug; so don’t ignore the label when taking an OTC medicine.

What are some good guidelines for over the counter drug safety?

What are some good guidelines for over-the-counter drug safety? 1 Obey directions by reading drug labels 2 Talk to your pharmacist – it’s a free consultation with an expert. 3 Choose the lowest dose first. For example, if the suggested dose is 1-2 tablets, take 1 pill first and see how you feel before upping the dose.

Why are OTC drugs considered over the counter?

Safety is a major concern when the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers reclassifying a prescription drug as OTC (over-the-counter). Most OTC drugs—unlike health foods, dietary supplements (including medicinal herbs ) and complementary therapies —have been studied scientifically and extensively.