Over-the-counter (OTC) medications offer convenient relief for common ailments like colds, coughs, and aches. However,their accessibility can lead to misuse and unexpected side effects. Understanding the potential risks and practicing safe usage is crucial for maintaining good health.
According to Stetson Potrykus, Pharmacy Resident at Aspirus, a common mistake is failing to read labels or understand the active ingredients. “Common mistakes with choosing over the counter cough and cold medications are patients at times might not read the labels or know what the active ingredients are in each medication,” he explains.
This oversight can lead to risky consequences. Taking multiple medications with overlapping ingredients inadvertently increases the overall dosage, substantially raising the risk of adverse reactions. Potrykus emphasizes this point: “some risks of taking multiple medications that have the same ingredients is it is indeed increasing the dose of that if you’re taking them both together so with that increase of dose it’s an increased risk of side effects.”
Many OTC medications combine ingredients to address multiple symptoms. While convenient, this necessitates careful label review to avoid accidental overdoses. When in doubt, consulting a doctor or pharmacist is always recommended.
Potrykus offers further guidance: “It is best to talk to your doctor say if you have a cough and you’ve been trying to treat it over the counter and it’s been about a week and the cough gets worse and your symptoms get worse, let your provider know.”
Simple precautions can significantly reduce the risk of side effects. These include carefully reading labels to understand ingredients and dosages, selecting medications that specifically target your symptoms, and avoiding redundant ingredients found in combination products. By taking a proactive and informed approach, you can safely utilize OTC medications for effective relief.
A common mistake people make when using OTC medications is not reading labels carefully or understanding the active ingredients. [3]
Taking multiple medications with overlapping ingredients can accidentally increase the overall dosage, leading to a higher risk of side effects. [3]
