Seven Common Misconceptions About Tylenol and Other OTC Drugs

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Seven Common Misconceptions

About Tylenol and Other OTC Drugs

By Dr. Joseph Mercola with Rachael Droege

 

Each year Americans buy about 5 billion over-the-counter (OTC) drugs in the

hopes of treating routine medical problems. Many believe OTC drugs do not pose

the same risks as prescription drugs and are completely safe to use, as they are

so readily available.

 

Unfortunately, the ease with which OTC drugs can be obtained presents a false

sense of security. As with all drugs, OTC drugs are simply covering up symptoms

and are not addressing the underlying cause of the symptoms. Further, even

though they're available without a prescription, they are still drugs, and many

contain powerful ingredients. Take a look at the following misconceptions that

are floating around to get an idea of the potential risks of relying on OTC

drugs, and check out my nutrition plan to learn how to prevent many of the

illnesses that drive you to use these drugs in the first place.

 

Myth 1: OTC Drugs are Safer Than Prescription Drugs

Over-the-counter drugs can have serious side effects and can even result in

death if taken incorrectly. Some 56,000 people end up in the emergency room each

year from misuse of acetaminophen, the main ingredient in Tylenol, alone. As

with prescription drugs, OTC drugs can interact with foods, other medications,

and existing medical conditions and cause some major problems.

 

Myth 2: It Takes a Whole Bottle to Overdose

It's possible to overdose without even knowing you took too much. For instance,

according to government estimates about 100 people die each year after

unintentionally taking too much acetaminophen (an overdose of the drug, which

includes Tylenol, can poison the liver).

 

One of the biggest problems is that many OTC medicines sold for different uses

have the same active ingredient. So someone who takes a cold remedy along with a

headache remedy or prescription pain reliever may be inadvertently receiving

three or four times the safe level. You should avoid taking multiple drugs with

the same active ingredient at the same time.

 

Along with acetaminophen, another group of OTC drugs to watch out for are

painkillers called NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), which include

aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen and ketoprofen. Overdosing on these widely

available drugs can cause stomach bleeding and kidney problems.

 

Myth 3: Any Potential Drug Interactions Will be Listed on the Label

While OTC drug labels will include some of the potentially harmful interactions

on the label, you cannot rely on them to cover every one (and many people do not

take the time to read the label anyway). Certain foods, drugs, herbs, vitamins

and your own existing medical conditions could potentially create a harmful

reaction. The best way to find out about these potential interactions would be

to talk to a doctor or pharmacist, but since many OTC drugs are sold in grocery

stores, convenient stores--even gas stations--there isn't always a knowledgeable

person available to answer your questions.

 

There are many interactions that can occur and many are unexpected. For

instance, if you have high blood pressure you could have an adverse reaction if

you take a nasal decongestant.

 

Myth 4: OTC Drugs are Cheaper than Prescription Drugs

OTC medications are not always cheap. You may find that what you think is a

simple OTC remedy is costing you more than some prescription drugs, and many

cost more than the nutritional interventions you could take to address the

underlying problems.

 

Myth 5: OTC Drugs Have Fewer Side-Effects than Prescription Drugs

All drugs carry the risk of side effects. Whether they're prescribed by a doctor

or bought over-the-counter does not make a difference in this risk.

 

Myth 6: It's Safe to Use OTC Drugs with Vitamins or other Nutritional

Supplements

This is a major issue, as most don't realize that vitamins and herbs can

interact with medications just as medications can interact with each other.

Interactions could cause unexpected side effects, could alter the effectiveness

of the drug or vitamin making them more or less powerful, or could even worsen

the condition you are trying to treat.

 

Myth 7: I Only Need to Look at the Active Ingredient on the Label

Inactive ingredients, which are labeled " inactive " by the FDA because they

presumably have no effect on the body, can indeed be problematic. Many OTC

medications contain additives that may surprise you, such as artificial dyes,

caffeine and sweeteners like aspartame. You will want to be sure to read the

inactive ingredients on the label along with the active ingredient section to be

sure you are aware of exactly what you are consuming.

www.mercola.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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