What You Should Know About Medications
Do you know the difference between Aspirin and Advil®? Americans manage 90% of their health problems themselves, and six out of ten medicines bought are over-the-counter. Here’s some information about them, and prescription medications as well.
- On this page:
Over-the-Counter Drugs
Try to select over-the-counter medications that have only the ingredients you need (multi-symptom drugs may give you medicine for problems you don’t have). And don’t misuse non-prescription medicines by taking them longer or in higher doses than the label recommends.
Keep in mind that over- the-counter drugs can have strong interactions with other medications. For example, St. John’s Wort, used commonly for mild depression, decreases the effectiveness of birth control pills. Please let your provider know all the medications you are taking.
ANTIHISTAMINES
- These block the action of histamine, diminish allergic reactions, dry up a runny nose, and stop itching.
- If you can predict your exposure, take them ahead of time. For example, if you know you are allergic to cats and you will be visiting someone with a cat, take the medication before your visit.
- Non-sedating antihistamines have fewer side effects (e.g. Loratadine®, sold as Claritin®, Alavert®, Allerclear®, etc) are available without a prescription.
- Medications containing chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton®, CPM®, Piriton®), diphenhydramine (Benadryl®, Dimedrol®), or brompheniramine (Bromfed®, Dimetane®) are more likely to cause dry mouth, drowsiness, and reduced cognitive performance. However, they make work better for cold symptoms than newer antihistamines. See www.commoncold.org.
- Read ingredients on labels (single ingredient medications are usually best), or ask your pharmacist for a recommendation
- Nasalcrom nasal spray may be a good non-prescription alternative
ANTIBACTERIAL OINTMENTS
- These protect open wounds from getting infected with bacteria.
- They are good to keep on hand for minor cuts, abrasions, burns, and blisters.
- They include Polysporin® (bacitracin, polymixin), Neosporin® (bacitracin, neomycin, polymixin B), and Bacitracin®.
FUNGAL INFECTION TREATMENTS
- These are used to treat fungal infections on the skin or in the vagina.
- Sometimes the names are similar, so read the label carefully to learn how and where to use the medication. Ask the pharmacist for assistance.
- Unless you are certain that you have one of these conditions, it is best to see a clinician to make an accurate diagnosis before using one of these medications.
Ringworm, Athletes Foot and Jock Itch: Lamisil (terbinafine hydrochloride),
Lotrimin®
Vaginal yeast infections (these can come in creams and suppositories):
Monistat® (miconazole), Gyne-Lotrimin®. Note:
Vagisil® does not treat a vaginal infection. It only numbs the vaginal
area temporarily.
ANTITUSSIVE/EXPECTORANTS
Antitussives (dextromethorphan, Robitussin DM®) help suppress a cough, expectorants (guafenesin, Humidbid®, Robitussin®, Mucinex®), help bring up secretions of the airways.
- Antitussives work best with a dry cough.
- Expectorants are helpful when coughing up mucus.
DECONGESTANTS
- These constrict the blood vessels and cut down on secretions. Here’s some tips:
- Avoid nasal spray decongestants (Afrin®) longer than 3 days; they can result in rebound congestion.
- Oral decongestants (pseudoephedrine, Sudafed®) may keep you awake or make you drowsy these are kept behind the counter, so you will need to ask a pharmacist for help.
- If you have problems with high blood pressure or rapid heart rate, consult a clinician before taking
- Some nasal sprays only contain normal saline (not vasoconstrictors) (Ocean Nasal Spray®, 4-Way Saline®, Simply Saline®, Nasal Comfort®) and are safe to use anytime to help remove nasal secretions and moisturize dry nasal passages.
PAIN RELIEVERS
Pain relievers include Aspirin, Advil®, Tylenol®, and Aleve®. Which one to use? They all relieve pain and reduce fever. All but Tylenol® reduce inflammation. Here are more distinctive attributes:
ASPIRIN
- Is the oldest and least expensive pain reliever. Although it is common, aspirin is powerful.
- It can cause upset stomach, nausea, and mild gastrointestinal bleeding (buffered compounds may diminish these side effects)
- Aspirin can interfere with blood clotting, lead to increased bleeding, and is not recommended if you have asthma
- If you take aspirin for a hangover, it may increase the risk of stomach irritation.
- It is not recommended under the age of 18 due to the risk of Reyes syndrome.
TYLENOL® (acetaminophen)
- Is like aspirin in its pain-relieving and fever-lowering qualities, but it doesn’t reduce inflammation
- It has almost no adverse effects on the stomach.
- Taking excessive acetaminophen in conjunction with alcohol can lead to liver damage.
- Other names: Panadol (paracetamol).
ADVIL® (ibuprofen) and Aleve® (naproxen)
- These are part of a class of drugs called non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDS).
- They can still cause indigestion, nausea, diarrhea, stomach pain, and ulcers, and should always be taken with food. Do not take them with alcohol.
- Other names: Anaprox®, Naprogesic®, Naprosyn®, Brufen®, Dorival®, Herron Blue®, Moment®, Ibumeritin®
UPSET STOMACH REMEDIES
Bismuth Subsalicylate (Pepto Bismol®)
- Used for nausea, heartburn, indigestion, diarrhea.
- It may cause a black tongue and stools which are harmless.
- Do not use if you are allergic to aspirin.
- Do not use if symptoms of influenza or chicken pox are present due to the risk of Reyes Syndrome with salicylates.
Antacids :calcium carbonate (TUMS®), aluminum hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide (Maalox® and Mylanta®).
- Used for heartburn or acid indigestion.
Antidiarrheals: (Pepto Bismol®), loperamide (Imodium®, Lopex®, Dimor®).
- It is recommended that you avoid loperamide if you have fever or bloody stools.
See a clinician if you have any of the following with an upset stomach:
- Dehydration (infrequent urination, dry mouth, dizziness, weakness)
- Fever > 100 F or 37.7 C
- Severe headache, abdominal pain or back pain
- Blood in stools or vomit
- Vomiting longer than 6-8 hours, diarrhea > 3 days
URINARY TRACT DRUGS
Phenazopyridine hydrochloride (HCL), (Pyridium®, Uristat®, Azo-standard®).
- These medications are used to treat the symptoms of a bladder infection including burning, urgency, and frequency.
- You should not use these medications for more than 2 days.
- They may turn your urine orange which is a harmless side effect
NOTE: these medications only help the symptoms of the infection, you must see a clinician for antibiotics to actually treat the infection. Untreated bladder infections may spread up to the kidneys and cause serious complications. See a clinician immediately if you have fever, back pain, or nausea and vomiting
Prescription Medications
To get the most from a prescription:
- Tell your health care practitioner about any over-the-counter medications, vitamins or herbal supplements that you are taking
- Ask what foods, drinks, activities, or other medications to avoid while taking the medication
- Don’t cut pills that are not scored (unless you check with the pharmacist)
- Ask what “take as needed” means
- Ask about generic medications (they are usually chemically equivalent to the name brands, but are less expensive)
- Read the label at the pharmacy to be sure there are no mistakes
- Fill prescriptions at the same pharmacy, and tell the pharmacist what other non-prescription and prescription drugs you are taking so they don’t interact negatively
- Don’t take another person’s medication, or give yours to others
- Generally, it’s important to take medications at the same time each day
- Know when to take each dose (e.g., find out if “four times a day” means just during the day or around the clock)
- Ask what to do when you forget to take a dose (it is different for different medications)
- Don’t stop taking antibiotics because you “feel better”unless instructed to by your clinician (the entire prescription must be used to completely clear the infection)
- Plan ahead so your treatment will be uninterrupted – get refills well before you run out