4 OTC Medicines You Want to Beware of Most

Four Over-the-Counter Medicines You Want to Beware of Most
by www.SixWise.com

http://www.sixwise.com/Newsletters/2008/December/26/Over-the-Counter-Medicines-You-Want-to-Beware-Of.htm?source=nl

In the United States there are more than 100,000 over-the-counter (OTC) medicines to treat everything from upset stomach to a sprained ankle. While these can at times increase your comfort when you’re not feeling well, they are not without risk.

More than 500,000 Americans end up in hospitals every year because of unintentional OTC drug overdoses, or due to OTC remedies interacting with other medications. There’s also a tendency for people to assume OTC drugs are completely safe, when in reality they all carry potential side effects, some of which are serious.

So the next time you think about taking a pain reliever for your headache or a cough suppressant for your cold, make sure you’re fully aware of the potential risks involved. Here we’ve outlined some of the OTC medicines you definitely need to use with caution.

1. Cough and Cold Medicines Containing Dextromethorphan (DXM)

DXM, a synthetically produced ingredient found in many over-the-counter cough and cold remedies, is widely available and has replaced codeine as the most widely used cough suppressant in the United States.

According to the National Youth Anti-Drug media campaign, over half of the OTC drugs on the market -- more than 125 products -- contain DXM.

According to the FDA, "Although DXM, when formulated properly and used in small amounts, can be safely used in cough suppressant medicines, abuse of the drug can cause death as well as other serious adverse events such as brain damage, seizure, loss of consciousness, and irregular heart beat."

2. Cough and Cold Medicines for Kids

Every year about 7,000 children under 11 go to the emergency room after taking cough and cold medicines, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The steep risks, combined with a lack of evidence proving effectiveness, led the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to recommend that cough and cold remedies not be used in children under the age of 6.

3. Acetaminophen (Tylenol)

Acetaminophen, sold under the brand name Tylenol and also included in more than 200 over-the-counter cold and flu remedies and other medications, is the most widely used painkiller in the United States. Up to 100 million Americans take acetaminophen every year.

The problem is that overdosing on Tylenol can cause serious liver damage, and it’s incredibly easy to overdose on this drug because it’s in so many different products.

Acetaminophen overdose is actually the leading cause of acute liver failure in the United States. While some of these stem from intentional overdoses (England has placed restrictions on the number of acetaminophen pills that can be sold at one time due to suicide concerns), many are accidental.

In fact, each year more than 56,000 people visit an emergency room because of acetaminophen overdoses, and 100 people die from unintentionally taking too much.

Further, a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that even at recommended doses, the drug shows signs of causing organ damage.

When taken at the highest recommended dose, experts say acetaminophen is generally safe, but acknowledge that the margin of error is very small.

4. Aspirin for Kids and Teens

Children under the age of 19 should not be given aspirin because it could lead to a rare, and sometimes fatal, illness known as Reye’s syndrome (RS). RS can quickly cause life-threatening damage to the liver and brain, and typically occurs in children or teens given aspirin while they were battling a viral illness. If you notice your child or teen vomiting or having diarrhea (in toddlers) three to six days after a viral illness, particularly if they’ve been given aspirin, get to an emergency room immediately.

How to Stay Safe: 4 Tips to Reduce Your Reliance on OTC Drugs

Ideally, the best way to reduce your risk of having an adverse reaction to a drug is to limit your exposure to them in the first place. This is something that can (and should) be done as a matter of course throughout your life by:

Eating plenty of health-promoting foods, and limiting junk foods.

Getting enough sleep every night. Once you are in bed, listen to a relaxation CD like the Sleep Easy CD to help you "shift gears" and relax into sleep.

Keeping stress to a minimum. This is easier said than done, of course, so for those of you who need a little help, we highly recommend the Pure Relaxation: Guided Meditations for Body, Mind & Spirit CD by respected meditation expert Mary Maddux.

Exercising regularly. Along with interval training, strength training and aerobics, stretching should be integrated with your exercise routine, as it will provide you with increased energy levels and a greater sense of well-being. There are countless stretches for your body, but it takes just 15 of them to stretch 95 percent of your body, according to stretching expert and creator of the DVD Stretching Toward a Healthier Life, Jacques Gauthier.