Seven Common Misconceptions About Tylenol and Other OTC Drugs

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http://www.mercola.com/2004/feb/7/over_the_counter.htm

 

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 Total Health Program 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.

 

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