Ihow Do You Know if Certains Meds Taken Are Needed Still?

Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines are those you can buy at the shop. You don't need a prescription from your doctor. They help you experience improve by treating or preventing common wellness problems. These could include pain, allergies, constipation, cold and flu, or nausea. But sometimes OTC medicines tin cause unpleasant effects. These are called adverse effects. They include:

• side furnishings
• drug-drug interactions
• food-drug interactions
• allergic reactions

It is best to be aware of the risks of OTC medicines and then that you lot know how to avoid them.

Side effects

Side effects are effects that medicines take on your body that don't assistance your symptoms. Virtually side effects are unpleasant. A few examples are nausea, dizziness, or bleeding in your digestive tract. Sometimes, side effects can be useful. For example, certain antihistamines tin cause sleepiness. This might be bad for people who have antihistamines during the day. Merely if you lot're taking an antihistamine at nighttime, this side upshot might help you lot get the slumber you need. Side effects are non the aforementioned thing every bit true drug allergies. Those are much less mutual.

Drug-drug interactions

The body processes every medicine differently. When medicines are used together, the ways they affect the body can change. This is called a drug-drug interaction. It happens whether they are prescription or OTC medicines. It can increase the chance that you will have side effects from medicines yous are taking. The main interaction types are:

• Duplication:This is when you accept 2 medicines that have similar active ingredients. It can give you more medicine than you need. An instance is when you take OTC ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) plus a prescription anti-inflammatory medicine. Too much of either an anti-inflammatory or hurting reliever can hurt your kidneys or liver.
• Opposition:Medicines with active ingredients that have reverse furnishings on your body can collaborate. This may reduce the effectiveness of 1 or both medicines. For case, OTC decongestants may raise your blood force per unit area. This can work against (cause opposition to) medicines that lower your blood pressure.
• Alteration:I medicine may change the way your body absorbs, spreads, or processes another medicine. For example, aspirin can change the style some prescription blood-thinning medicines work.

If you see more than 1 doctor, tell each of them about the medicines yous accept. Practice this even if you lot take something for just a short time. Include any herbal supplements, vitamins, and minerals you take. One time a year, take all of your medicines and supplements with you when you encounter your physician. You should besides do this if your medications alter at any time.

Drug-food interactions

Food may change how your body processes some OTC or prescription medicines. This is chosen a drug-food (or drug-nutrient) interaction. Sometimes what you eat and potable can affect the ingredients in a medicine you're taking. This tin prevent the medicine from working the style it should. For example, medicines taken by oral fissure are normally absorbed through the lining of the breadbasket. The nutrients from the food you lot eat are also absorbed this way. If you have a medicine with food but the directions say not to, your trunk might not exist able to blot the medicine the correct way.

Food does not bear on all OTC medicines. But what you lot swallow and when you consume it does matter with some medicines. This is why some medicines should be taken on an empty stomach. That means 1 hour before or 2 hours later eating. At the same time, some medicines are captivated or candy better when you have them with food.

Read the drug facts label carefully. Come across if you should take your medicine with nutrient or on an empty stomach. If the label doesn't give specific instructions, it probably doesn't matter when you have it. If y'all have any questions, enquire your family unit physician or pharmacist. They can also warn you about possible interactions with your prescription medicines.

Allergic reactions

It'south not common, but some people are allergic to certain medicines. Signs of an allergic reaction include itching, rash, hives, and breathing problems. If y'all've ever had an allergic reaction to a medicine, avoid medicines that contain the same ingredients. Call your doctor or seek immediate medical help if you think you're having an allergic reaction. Keep in listen that side furnishings are not true allergic reactions.

Path to Improved Health

Certain situations put you at higher risk for adverse furnishings. The possible adverse effects differ from ane OTC medicine to another, then it's all-time to carefully read the drug facts label of whatsoever OTC medicine. Then you lot volition know what to wait.

Here are some more tips to help y'all avoid agin furnishings.

• Try to limit how often you use OTC medicines. Don't use them unless yous really demand them.
• If y'all take any prescription medicines, ask your doctor before taking an OTC medicine.
• Read the drug facts label on the medicine carefully. Make certain you know what ingredients the medicine contains. Also brand sure yous understand any warnings or possible adverse effects.
• If yous don't understand something about the medicine, enquire your doctor or pharmacist.
• Have the medicine just as your medico or the drug facts label instructs. Don't take a higher dose of the medicine than recommended. Don't take the medicine more frequently than the characterization says. Don't accept it for a longer period of fourth dimension than recommended.
• When giving medicine to children, utilize the right measuring device to brand sure they go the right corporeality. This could exist a spoon made for measuring medicine, or a syringe or cup.
• Don't take capsules apart or stir medicine into your food unless your doc says it's okay. This may alter the way the medicine works.
• Don't accept medicine with alcoholic drinks.
• Don't mix medicine into hot drinks unless the label tells you to. The heat may continue the medicine from working as it should.
• Don't take vitamin pills at the same time you accept medicine. Vitamins and minerals can cause problems if taken with some medicines.
• Keep track of any allergies and adverse reactions you have had to OTC medicines in the past. Avoid medicines that incorporate the same ingredients.
• Check drug facts labels and avoid taking medicines that comprise the same active ingredients at the same time. This can assistance y'all avert taking likewise much of a certain medicine.
• Call back that fifty-fifty if you took a medicine in the past with no problems, you could still take a reaction when y'all accept information technology now.

Things to Consider

Healthy adults who employ OTC medicines occasionally and properly have a low risk of adverse furnishings. However, some people are at greater risk. These include very young children, older adults, and people taking more than 1 type of medicine. People who have the following conditions are besides at a college risk:

• asthma
• haemorrhage disorders
• blood clotting disorders
• breathing bug
• diabetes
• enlarged prostate glands
• epilepsy
• glaucoma
• gout
• heart disease
• high blood pressure
• immune system problems
• kidney bug
• liver problems
• Parkinson's disease
• psychiatric problems
• thyroid problems

These conditions put some people at greater risk. But anyone tin can feel an agin effect from an OTC medicine.

How volition I know if I'm experiencing an adverse result?

Anytime you take medicine, be enlightened of changes in your trunk and how you feel. A certain symptom may be caused by your illness, or it may exist an agin effect from your medicine. It may be hard to know the difference. Tell your family unit physician when the symptom started. Tell them if it is different from other symptoms yous have had.

Are older adults at increased risk for agin effects?

Older adults oftentimes use many medicines at the aforementioned time. This often includes both prescription and OTC medicines. Their bodies process medicines differently than younger adults. This is why they need to pay careful attention to drug-drug interactions. If you are an older adult, talk with your doc most all of the medicines you take. This includes OTC medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Your doctor can tell you lot whether you are at risk of having an adverse effect from taking an OTC medicine.

Questions to Ask Your Md

• What are the interactions between the medicines I take?
• Should I accept any of my medicines with food or on an empty stomach?
• Do I demand to tell my doctor almost the vitamins I take regularly?
• Should I tell my doc every time I have a new OTC medicine?
• What kinds of symptoms should I look out for that could mean I'k having an adverse reaction to my OTC medicine?
• Is my symptom a side effect or a truthful allergic reaction to a medicine?

Copyright © American Academy of Family Physicians

This information provides a general overview and may not apply to everyone. Talk to your family medico to find out if this information applies to yous and to get more information on this discipline.

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Source: https://familydoctor.org/otc-medicines-know-your-risks-and-reduce-them/