Over the counter drugs or OTC drugs are medications that can be taken without doctor’s prescription. They have to be taken as directed on the drug label that gives information about the drug otherwise there can be harmful side effects. Special care must be taken when you are administering OTC drugs to children, pregnant women, breastfeeding women and older adults.
Giving OTC products to children
OTC products can be given safely to your child who is over 4 years of age for relief from disease symptoms only after reading the directions of use on drug label carefully. For cold and cough OTC medications for children, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has come out with new rules as children were falling sick after taking over dosage of OTC drugs or were taking them without the knowledge of their parents. If you have any doubts regarding giving OTC medications to your child, do consult your doctor.
It is important to read the drug label before administering medication to your child. When the label says that the medication has to be given every 6 hours it means that it can be given four times a day. To measure liquid medicine, ask your pharmacist for a measuring teaspoon, cup or syringe that is labeled with ml and tsp. Keep a record of all the drugs and dosages you are giving your child so that you can discuss it with the doctor in your child’s next appointment.
OTC drugs for pregnant women
The period between 2 weeks to 8 weeks of pregnancy is crucial as any medicine you take will directly affect your baby, and this is the time when important organs like heart and kidney of the baby develop. If you are trying to conceive and you really need to take medicines for some health problem, you must consult your doctor before taking any kind of medication as there could be safer options to treat your problem then taking medication.
The first trimester of pregnancy is very crucial. It is better to avoid any kind of medication during this period as it may affect the development of the baby. Use of Aspirin can cause birth defects, delivery problems and low birth weight. Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) like Naproxene (Aleve) and Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advin) can cause defects of heart in your baby if taken during pregnancy. For short term pain relief Tylenol is recommended. You must avoid long acting maximum strength medications and over the counter medications for diarrhea, congestion, cough, constipation and nausea. Try avoiding a combination of medications like using acetaminophen in combination with antihistamines or decongestants to lower the risk of harmful effects on your baby.
Folic Acid Alert
When women with folic acid deficiency get pregnant, there is a chance of delivering a baby with brain and spinal cord defects known as neural tube defects. Folic acid is essential for proper development of the fetus. The recommended dose of folic acid is 0.4 mg per day. You must eat folic acid rich foods like bananas, oranges, green leafy vegetables, grains, milk, dry beans and chicken liver. The doctor may also recommend vitamin supplements that are rich in folic acid.
OTC drugs during breastfeeding
You must take your oral medication after you have completed breastfeeding and your infant is asleep for a long period before the next feed. It is not safe to take aspirin as it will cause bleeding problems and rashes in babies who are nursing. Antihistamines cause side effects in nursing infants like excessive crying, sleeping problem, drowsiness and irritability. They also decrease the production of breast milk. The antihistamines include chlorpheniramine (Chlortrimeton allergy,singlet) ,brompheniramine (Allergy elixin and Dimetapp cold), diphenhydramine (Sominex and Benadryl allergy), dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) and doxylamine (Alka seltzer plus night cold medicine, Vicks Day quill) You must watch your baby for side effects like breathing trouble and rash.
OTC drugs in older adults
Older adults are at higher risk for side effects due to OTC drugs as there is a possibility of them taking many drugs at the same time. NSAIDs use in older adults can increase the risk of intestinal bleeding and kidney disease. Decongestants in older adults can cause side effects like dizziness, sleeping problems and nervousness. Antihistamines cause side effects like blurred vision, drowsiness, urinating trouble and dry mouth. It is important that you read the drug label carefully and consult your doctor before taking any medication.
Check the Drug label
The drug label will give drug information like active ingredient of the drug, uses, warnings and safety information, directions of use, storing information, inactive ingredients like coloring agent and preservatives and lastly a toll free number of the manufacturer. It is advised that you read the Drug label properly before you take OTC drugs.
