Prescription & Over-the-Counter Drugs: Get the Facts Lesson 2-4

Bell Ringer Get out Student Journal Pg. 7, Lesson 3, Journal Entry Write about a time you were given a prescription from a doctor for a medicine, or a time you took a medicine purchased from a store for a cold, allergies, or other illness. ◦What were your symptoms and how did the medicine help?

What Do You Know?  Prescription Meds What are some other medicines you have heard of or may have taken? What do all these drugs have in common? What’s the difference between prescription and over-the-counter drugs?  OTC Meds

Prescription Drug A drug can legally get only from a pharmacy with a written prescription from a medical professional. Maybe be stronger or have side effects that require a doctor to monitor their use. Used to treat critical or chronic health conditions.

Over-The-Counter Drug Can be purchased by anyone in a drug store or grocery store. Used to treat symptoms of common illnesses, such as cold, allergies, or the flu. Sometimes there are limits on who can purchase; such as needing to be over the age of 18

Proper Use The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) determines which drugs are going to be prescription drugs and which will be allowed to be sold over-the-counter. ◦Can start out as prescription and can later be designated as over-the-counter. (Ex. Claritin and Zantac) The FDA also requires drugs used as medicines to be labeled with directions on how to use/consume.

RX and OTC Labels

Differences Over-the-counter drug labels include extra information because it is not known who will be taking the drug. ◦Example – drug may be appropriate for a 10 year old and an adult, but the dosage or amount taken would be different Prescription label does not have additional information because it is based on the person who it is prescribed for. ◦Based on that person’s age, weight, allergies, other medicines taken, and specific health conditions

Misuse Examples Taking more of the drug than what’s prescribed or indicated on the label. Taking the drug more frequently than what’s prescribed or indicated on the label. Using an over-the-counter drug for longer than is recommended. Taking 2 or more drugs at the same time without consulting a health care professional. Not finishing a prescribed course of a medication, such as antibiotics, which are supposed to be taken until the prescription is gone.

Examples of Abuse Taking a drug when there’s no medical reason to do so. Taking a drug to get high or experience other side effects. Taking a drug that was prescribed for someone else. Obtaining a prescription drug without doctor’s order. Getting multiple prescriptions for the same drug from more than one doctor or pharmacy. Using a prescription or over-the-counter medicine along with alcohol or other illegal drugs.

Summarize Especially with OTC drugs, people may think that taking more of a drug, or taking a drug more often, will be better or more effective in stopping the symptoms, which can lead to misuse. Misuse may occur when they forget to take a dose, or stop using the drug once the symptoms improve. One distinction between misuse and abuse has to do with intent and how habitually a person misuses any kind of drug. Even if one-time misuse of a legal drug causes physical, emotional, or social problems for the user, you could argue that the person has abused the drug.

Partner Activity Work with a partner that has the same favorite TV show as you. List as many reasons people might misuse or abuse prescription and over-the- counter drugs as you can think of in 1 minute.

Close What’s the most important thing that you learned today to help you avoid misusing or abusing prescription or over-the- counter drugs?

Homework Handout – Teens & Tobacco: What do you Think? ◦Between now and our next class, interview at least 2 other teens and ask them these survey questions about tobacco. Be sure to write down their responses You’ll be using the data you gather in the next class!!!