Over The Counter Medication Guide
It's estimated that as many as 70 percent of American adults and 50 percent of children take an over the counter medication in any given month.
Usually it's safe.
But now there's a guide for both patients and physicians, to help make sure that a visit to the drug store doesn't end up in a trip to the hospital.
Pharmacy shelves are increasingly crowded, and increasingly confusing these days.
There are more than 100-thousand over the counter drugs on the market.
Many used to be available only by prescription but can now be bought with no doctor or pharmacist supervising what you are buying, or what you are using it for.
Now the American Academy of Family Physicians has produced the first ever guide on the safe use of over the counter medications.
It's designed to help people decide what is the most appropriate medicine to buy for treating colds, allergies, pain, and minor illnesses.
For instance-- pain relievers.
There are three different kinds, ranging from Aspirin to Tylenol to Alleve.
All are used to treat pain and fever, but all work differently with different benefits and different risks.
The guide tells you how to read labels and also explains how common over the counter drugs like antihystamines or cough medications can interact with prescription drugs.
That's particularly important for seniors who may be taking several prescription drugs.
The guide tells you important things you need to know about each medicine,
such as how much to take, how often possible side effects arise and how long to continue taking it.
And it includes special instructions, such as taking with meals.
It's a simple common sense guide, to make sure people make the best, safest use of their local pharmacy.
