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About Over the Counter Medicine
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
InstructionsHistoryStep 1: For centuries, no regulations governed whether a substance used as a medicine was freely available to the public. Most medications were, after all, natural substances derived from plants, and were therefore seen as not requiring expert oversight. Often, too, the number of physicians available to a community was too small to meet the community's need--or there were no physicians available at all. Thus, people were required to know, understand and be able to use those medicines that were available to them to treat various illnesses and conditions.
Unfortunately, as science advanced in its ability to refine the substances used in medicines into purer, stronger forms, more and more people began to have difficulties with developing addictions to various medicines. The proliferation of "quack" medicines also created a problem: consumers were being sold medications that claimed to cure every condition from baldness to cancer, but that were merely a mixture of various ingredients with no proven efficacy and the potential for being poisonous.
The FDAStep 1: Between the rising numbers of drug addicts and the rising quantities of fake medicines being sold to the public, the U.S. Government determined that it was time to step in. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began to regulate which medications were available and to whom.
One of the FDA's responsibilities was, and is, to determine if a drug is safe enough for consumer use and if the drug is simple and effective enough that it can be made available to the general public without the need for a prescription. Any medication with a potential for physical addiction will not be cleared by the FDA for use as an OTC medication. Nor will any drug whose dosage must be carefully monitored to avoid overdose or serious side effects.
The FDA also is responsible for reviewing frequently used medications--both OTC and prescription--and determining if an OTC drug should remain so and if a prescription drug can be released to be an OTC drug.
Medicines AvailableStep 1: Most minor conditions have OTC medicines available for their treatment. The most common conditions treated by OTC medicines are aches and pains, allergy and sinus conditions, and indigestion.
OTC medicines are available in adult and children's formulas, with specific doses for each. Many medicines are available in powder, tablet, capsule, liquid-filled capsule and liquid formulations. Some medicines also have specific formulations for diabetics, individuals who are sensitive to artificial flavors and colors, and people with high blood pressure.
Side EffectsStep 1: Side effects of OTC drugs are similar to prescription drugs, but have been proven to occur less frequently. Consumers should still be cautious when trying any new medication, as allergic reactions are possible.
Other DangerStep 1: The greatest danger associated with OTC medicines is overdose. Consumers should be careful to read all dosage instructions when using OTC medicines. This is especially true with children's medications.
Many children's medicines are flavored to taste like fruit syrup or candy in order to make them more pleasant for children to take. This increases the danger of overdose in children who do not recognize that what they are swallowing is medicine. All medications should be kept out of the reach of children at all times. Parents should never purchase medications that are not sold in childproof packages.
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