Over-The-Counter Medicines: Are They Safe?

Introduction:

Lately, a common trait has been observed among several patients. That is, avoiding consulting a doctor for their illnesses. To avoid consulting a doctor, the patient is seen to directly approach the pharmacy for certain medicines and not take a thorough treatment from a qualified healthcare provider. A lack of awareness about the illness and its causes, lack of facilities, lack of time, and economic issues are the major role players in it. However, the harm is to the patient's health.

What Are Over-the-counter Medicines?

Over-the-counter (OTC) medications are the drugs that individuals can purchase without a prescription. It is otherwise known as OTC or nonprescription medicines. These over-the-counter medications help ease symptoms like pain, itching, etc. It is considered safe and effective if they follow the instructions given on the label.

Note: If one does not understand the instructions, contact the pharmacist and get to know the dos and do nots while taking the drugs.

What Are Over-the-counter Medicines Used For?

Over-the-counter medicines can help protect health when used correctly and as instructed. It helps in the following conditions:

• It helps alleviate symptoms like pain, coughing, or diarrhea.

• OTC medicines help prevent health illnesses such as motion sickness and heartburn.

• It also helps treat conditions like allergies, headaches, or athletes' feet.

When Can Over-the-counter Medications Be Used?

Over-the-counter medicines can be used to treat minor health illnesses. If individuals are not sure if the medicine is right for them, then ask the pharmacist about the medicine, ask if the medicine interacts with other medications they are taking, and also ask about the side effects that are caused by the drug.

Who Is at More Risk of Developing Adverse Effects on Taking Over-The-Counter Medicines?

Healthy individuals are usually at a lower risk of developing side effects from taking OTC medicines. People who have the following conditions are at greater risk of developing adverse effects:

• Asthma.

• Bleeding disorders.

• Breathing problems.

• Epilepsy.

• Heart disease.

• High blood pressure (hypertension).

• Issues with the immune system.

• Diabetes.

• Liver diseases.

• Glaucoma.

• Thyroid problems.

• Psychiatric issues.

• Parkinson's disease.

What Are the Ways to Use Over-The-Counter Medicines Safely?

Additional tips for using over-the-counter medicines safely are:

• Before making a purchase, check the packaging. Verify that it did not get altered.

• Never utilize medication that does not seem to belong in its packaging, or that does not look right. Take it back to the place of purchase.

• If one has poor vision, never take medication in the dark or without glasses. Ensure that the correct medication is taken from the appropriate container.

• Inform the doctor of all medications one takes at all times. This covers over-the-counter and prescription medications in addition to vitamins and herbs. OTC and prescription medications can interact in some cases.

• Keeping medication out of children's sight and reach can help prevent accidents.

Why Do Patients Prefer Getting Over-The-Counter Medicines?

The reasons can be many:

• To save the doctors' consultation fees.

• Fear of being overmedicated.

• Fear of being diagnosed with a chronic condition like diabetes or hypertension.

What Are the Risks Associated With Taking Over-the-counter Medications?

• The medicine individuals take can interact with other medications, supplements, foods, or drinks that they are already taking. The human body processes every medicine differently, and so when different medicines are taken together, the way they affect the body can be changed, and the chances of side effects can be high.

• Certain over-the-counter medications may not be suitable for people with certain medical conditions. For instance, a person with high blood pressure cannot take decongestants.

• They can be allergic to the medicine. It is not common, but a few people can be allergic to certain medicines. The signs of an allergic reaction include itching, rashes, hives, and breathing problems.

• And most importantly, taking certain medicines during pregnancy is not safe. If pregnant, then definitely consult a healthcare provider before taking OTC medicines.

• They have to be very cautious when they are giving over-the-counter medicines to children, as the right and appropriate dosage given on the drug label needs to be taken.

• Most of the OTC medicines are not as strong as the prescription ones.

What Are the Complications of Taking Over-the-counter Medicines?

Preference to use the internet over a personal consultation. Buying medicines without a doctor's prescription temporarily relieves the symptoms. However, the patient ends up suffering for extended periods than necessary and finally ends up with more complications, resistance to the previously effective drugs, and increasing side effects of medicines.

Ultimately, the health of society is getting affected, and they are gradually becoming vulnerable to rare diseases, which is so distinct from the sudden increase in the number of patients with fatal diseases, which is a global concern.

What Are Interactions Between Drugs?

Every medication is metabolized differently by the body. The interactions between medications can alter how they function in the body. This is referred to as a drug-drug interaction. The primary forms of interaction are:

• Duplication: This occurs when two medications with identical active components are used. One can receive more medication than one requires from it.

• Opposition: Drugs containing active components may interact with one another if they have different effects on the body. This could make one or both medications less effective.

• Alteration: A medication may have an impact on how another medication is absorbed, distributed, or processed by the human body.

How to Develop a Path to Improved Health?

• Try to limit the usage of OTC medicines unless one needs them.

• If taking prescription medicines for any other illnesses, then consult a healthcare provider before taking any OTC drug.

• Read the drug label and make sure one knows what ingredients the drug contains. And understand the drug warnings and precautions. If one needs help understanding the medicine, ask the pharmacist.

• Take medicine as instructed. Do not take a higher dose or frequently, thinking it will have better effects. Take it at the recommended dosage and duration.

• Avoid taking medicines with alcohol.

• Do not take vitamin supplements along with OTC medicines.

• Avoid taking medicines containing the same ingredients at the same time.

• Remember that one can still develop a reaction to a medicine one took in the past with no reactions.

Over-the-counter medication is the major factor in deteriorating general health, and it should be strictly prohibited. People need not wait until a law prohibiting the sale of potent medicines without proper prescriptions is passed. People must start avoiding doing so for their own health. If people are competent enough to understand and circumvent it, then it will slowly and gradually get wiped out naturally.

Conclusion:

It is important not to overlook the symptoms or try to escape the proper treatment path. Instead, approach a qualified doctor at the initial stage and receive the best possible treatment to check on the disease in the very beginning, thereby saving health and money in the long run.