Walk through any grocery or drug store and the array of over-the-counter medications available is amazing. There are pills, liquids, caplets, drops, or ointments for everything from allergies to hemorrhoids, dry eyes to warts, pain to indigestion, sniffles to poison ivy, coughs to diarrhea . . . the list is almost endless.

So how do you choose the right product for you and whatever ails you? Read the product labels very carefully. Then ask:

• What conditions or symptoms the medication treats? Some remedies do more than you need.
• How severe are my symptoms/how long have I had the symptoms?
• How much medicine should I take, how often, for how long?
• What activities, like driving, should I avoid while taking the medication?
• What effect the medicine might have on other health conditions I have, such as asthma, high blood pressure, pregnancy?
• Is the medication appropriate? Children and the elderly can respond differently to medications than adults.

A good resource of information is the pharmacist on duty. Tell him or her what your problem is and ask what non-prescription medications would be most effective. Remember, there are no dumb questions when it comes to the medicine you take.

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ALWAYS tell your health care provider and pharmacist about all the medications you take--including alternative medicines. Keep a list of all medications, noting the name and dosage of each.

Food and medication interactions. Certain foods, drinks, medications, and even activities can affect how a drug does its job. Some foods and beverages may change the potency of a medication or may interfere with the body's ability to absorb nutrients from food. Some of these interactions can be dangerous. Be sure to follow all instructions.

Side effects. Know the side effects of the drugs you take. Some side effects may be mild, while other can be serious. Your doctor and pharmacist can help you anticipate and understand these side effects and help you deal with them. If you experience unexplained symptoms, contact your doctor immediately. Tell your health care providers of any reactions or side effects from previous medications.

Proper use. Take your medications as instructed by your doctor and pharmacist. The medicine won't work the way it is supposed to if you don't take it properly, skip doses, or stop taking it. Feeling better is not a good reason to stop the prescription before it is complete. Never change the frequency or dosage of your medications without consulting with your doctor and pharmacist.

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• Make sure all safety seals and tamper-proof features are in place before purchasing medications.
• Wear your glasses to read the label instructions. Don't take medications in the dark.
• Don't take any medication that looks different from medicine still in the package.
• Follow the directions on the label. They're there for your safety, protection, and health.
• Store medications in cool, dry places--out of the reach of children. Your bathroom medicine cabinet may not be the best place to store medications.
• Discard medications after their expiration date. Out-of-date medications lose their potency and may alter chemically.

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There is no difference in quality or effectiveness between generic drugs and name-brand drugs. The active ingredients in generic prescription drugs are exactly the same as in name-brand ones. Both are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Not all medications have a generic alternative, particularly new drugs. The price is higher on name-brand drugs because drug manufacturing companies invest time and money in developing new drugs and look for a return on their investment. They are more likely to develop groundbreaking treatments for tough ailments. So, if your particular drug isn't available in generic form, it's probably because the drug is too new for the generic manufacturer to create its version of the medicine. 

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Pharmacists are too busy preparing prescriptions to answer questions about medications.

Patients should always feel free to talk to their pharmacist and discuss any questions they may have.

Most patients ask their pharmacist about correct dosing and possible side effects of common over-the-counter drugs.

Few patients take advantage of the pharmacist's knowledge and ask questions about their over-the-counter medication purchases.

Most pharmacists' primary concern is dispensing medications.

While pharmacists continue to assure accurate medication dispensing, an increasing amount of time is spent working with clients to ensure the medication is the right one for them and their situation. 

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• University of Iowa Health Care
  You And Your Pharmacist
• MEDLINEplus: Drug Information
• MEDLINEplus: About Your Medicines

Listed above are several Web sites that offer additional information on this topic. University of Iowa Health Care does not sponsor or endorse these sites, or guarantee the accuracy of the information contained on these sites. These links are here for general information only, and should not be used for personal diagnosis or treatment. If you have any questions, please contact UI Health Access.

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