Information for adults on using over-the-counter medicines safely By: Chaltu Wakjira,PhamD August 30, 2014

 What is over-the-counter medicine (OTC)  Drug facts label  Tips for using medicine safely  How to measure liquid medicine  Giving medicine to child  What is OTC used for  Are these medicine  Dietary supplements  Important medicine rules

 Is the kind you by without a doctor’s order (prescription)  A medicine (drug)that changes the way your body works or treats or prevents a disease ****Before you use any medicine, you should always read the Label****

 The ingredients in the medicine  What the medicine is for  If the medicine is right for you and your problem  If there are reasons to talk to your doctor first  How to use your medicine  Proper storage

 Have question talk to  Your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse  Keep a record of what you use  OTC, prescription medicine, vitamins, herbals, other supplements you use  Give this list to your health care professionals  Before you start using something new  Talk to your doctor or pharmacist They will help you avoid medicines that don’t mix with each other

 Choose a medicine that treats only the problems you have  Extra medicine won’t help you but could cause harmful  Read the label each time before you use  No matter how well you think you know your medicine, check what it is, what it is for, and how to use it  Check the active ingredients  Part of the medicines that makes it work  Don’t use two medicines with the same active ingredient at the same time

 Follow the instruction on the label  Don’t use more than what is recommended  Use medicine only as long as the label says if the recommended dose or period doesn’t help, talk to your doctor  Keep medicine in the bottle, box or tube that it came in  Keep medicine out of reach and sight of children and pets  Keep all medicines in a cool, dry place  If the medicine reaches its expiration date, discarded it appropriately

 Use the measuring spoon, cup, or syringe that comes with the medicine  If the medicine doesn’t come with a special measuring tool, ask for one at the pharmacy  Spoons you use to eat your food may hold the wrong amount of medicine  Check the markings to make sure your measuring tool can measure the right dose

 Use your child’s weight to find the right dose of medicine on the drug facts label  If you don’t know your child’s weight, use his or her age to find the right dose  Never guess a child’s dose.  If a dose for your child’s weight or age is not listed on the label or if you can’t tell how much to use Call your pharmacist or doctor

 Pain and fever are two most common reasons  There are five active ingredients used to reduce fever and mild aches and pains  Acetaminophen  Aspirin  Ibuprofen  Naproxen sodium  Ketoprofen The last four active ingredients are all members of a drug class called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS)

 Other health problem OTC medicine is used for are  Nasal congestion (decongestants)  Allergies (antihistamines)  Cough (cough suppressants & expectorants)  Stomach upset (antacids & acid reducers)  Cigarette addiction (nicotine gum, lozenge, etc)  Sunscreens ** people with high blood pressure or heart disease need to talk to their doctor before using decongestants**

 Active ingredients in OTC medicines can be harmful if you don’t use them as directed on the label such us:  Acetaminophen can damage your liver  NSAIDS can damage your kidneys  Aspirin shouldn’t not be given to children or teenagers; it cause a sever illness called Reye’s Syndrome  Medicine can have more than one active ingredient to treat more than one problem  Cold and flu, allergy, and cough and cold medicines

Yes  Fluoride toothpaste  Dandruff shampoos  Anti-perspirant  Sunscreens  Hydrocortisone cream  Medicines for lice No  Toothpaste/no fluoride  Regular shampoos  Deodorant  Aloe Vera gel  Moisturizing cream  Insect repellants

 Read the label each time before you use a medicine  Be sure it’s right in 5 ways:

 Like OTC medicines can be bought off the shelf without a doctor’s order  Comes as tablets, capsules, softgels, liquids, or powders  They may also look like medicine you take by mouth  May contain vitamins, minerals, herbs, and other ingredients **dietary supplements are not OTC medicines**

What are some reasons for using an OTC medicine?

 Never share your prescription medicine with someone else  Never use someone else’s prescription medicine  With OTC medicine, always check the dose  The right dose for you may be different than for your friend or family member  Discard all expired medicines appropriately

 If you or someone uses too much medicine, call for help right away  Your doctor: Phone number___________  Your pharmacist: Phone number________  Poison control center