OVER THE COUNTER MEDS

Over the Counter Cold and Flu Medications
By Kristina Duda, R.N., About.com Guide
Updated November 28, 2010

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board

With so many over-the-counter medications available to treat cold and flu symptoms, it is hard to know which ones to choose. Here, you will find just a sample of over-the-counter cold and flu medications. To decide which one is right for you, figure out what your symptoms are and which medication will provide the most relief from those symptoms.

1. Over the Counter Medications for Runny Noses, Sneezing and Itching

A few medications are available over the counter for runny noses, sneezing and itching. These are known as antihistamines. They will help dry up your runny nose and stop you from sneezing and itching so much.

2. Over the Counter Medications for Pain Relief and Fever Reduction

Several different medications are available over the counter for bringing down fevers and relieving minor aches and pains. They are sold under brand names such as Tylenol, Motrin and Aleve and also come in generic form. Be sure to find out which one is right for you and your family before taking pain relievers and fever reducers.

3. Over the Counter Medications for Congestion

Having a stuffed up head can not only be uncomfortable, but it can also lead to headaches and sinus infections. A few options are available if you are looking for an over the counter medication to get rid of your congestion. They are known as decongestants.

In the US, pseudoephedrine (PSE) is now available only behind the pharmacy counter but still without a prescription. Several drug companies, including the makers of Sudafed, have replaced PSE with a medication called phenylephrine. It is available in the cold and flu aisle.

4. Over the Counter Medications for Cough

A cough is one of those annoying symptoms that is hard to treat. You never know if you need to do something about it or what could be causing it. You may want to evaluate your cough before taking cough medication. If you decide that an over-the-counter cough medication would be right for you, a choice still must be made between one that breaks up your chest congestion (expectorant) and one that stops your cough (suppressant). It is important to be sure you are taking the right over-the-counter cough medication.
5. Over the Counter Medications for Multiple Symptoms

If you have more than one symptom you need to treat, which most people do when they get a cold or the flu, you may want to consider a medication that treats multiple symptoms. Many options are available, just make sure you are taking one that treats only the symptoms you have. Taking medication for symptoms you do not have is not only unnecessary, but it can also be dangerous.
6. Natural and Herbal Medications For Cold and Flu

Many people prefer natural or herbal treatments when it comes to their health. These can be good options, but it is important to talk with your doctor about what herbs you are taking. They can interact with other medications you may be on or be dangerous for people with certain diseases. Because herbal supplements are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, they do not always list potential side effects or interactions with other drugs.

MY THOUGHTS

figuring this out is like habit #5- listen first before you can prescribe anything. especially if you are doing self-medication.

WORRISOME EFFECTS OF EVERYDAY DRUGS

Everyday Drugs, Worrisome Side Effects
By Catherine Guthrie
O, The Oprah Magazine | From the April 2008 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine

This is a grim trend: A recent report in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine uncovered a nearly threefold surge—between 1998 and 2005—in the number of serious injuries, disabilities, and deaths linked to prescription drugs. Thomas Moore, a senior scientist at the Institute for Safe Medication Practices in Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania, and the report's lead author, says neither doctors nor patients want to think about the downside of drug treatment: "People don't want to look at the risks, and physicians don't want to think they may be hurting their patients instead of helping them." But a little awareness could help you avoid troublesome side effects and even save your life, especially with these three frequently prescribed classes of drugs.

Painkillers: To soothe arthritis, headaches, and muscle pain, more than 30 million Americans reach for NSAIDS (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) every day. But these medicine cabinet mainstays, such as aspirin and ibuprofen, pack serious perils. Namely, they can weaken the stomach's defenses against digestive juices, leaving it vulnerable to damage. Every year NSAID-related ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding send upwards of 100,000 people racing to the hospital; the pills contribute to up to as many as 20,000 deaths annually. If you regularly pop NSAIDS, tell your doctor so she can help you minimize the risks; the biggest is a peptic ulcer. If you have a burning pain in your gut that comes and goes, see a doctor.

Antidepressants: The number of Americans on these drugs—roughly 8 percent of adults—has more than tripled in the past 20 years. The class of medications most often used to lift mood are called SSRIs (short for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) and act on the brain's chemical messengers. But they can sidetrack these messengers from their other duties, namely sexual arousal. Up to two-thirds of all users report signs of sexual dysfunction, such as low libido, inability to sustain an erection, and difficulty reaching orgasm. "Don't be embarrassed to talk to your doctor about sexual side effects," says Moore. "Changing the drug or the dose might take care of the problem." A switch to bupropion (Wellbutrin) may help; both male and female patients have also reported that Viagra can boost sensation and performance.

Statins: These cholesterol busters are lifesavers for many of the 26 million Americans who live with heart disease, but they aren't risk-free. The drugs can interfere with proteins that help sustain muscle, leaving users feeling sore and achy. In a small percentage of people, those muscle pains indicate rhabdomyolysis, a potentially deadly condition in which muscle tissue is rapidly destroyed. If you experience muscle pain or weakness on statins, talk to your doctor about adjusting the dose or switching to a different brand—both can alleviate symptoms. You may need to be persistent. A recent survey in the journal Drug Safety found that of the 650 statin users who had reported muscle-related symptoms to their doctors, nearly half had their concerns dismissed. Beatrice Golomb, MD, PhD, associate professor of medicine at the University of California, San Diego, led the study and says she was flabbergasted by how many doctors failed to take patients' complaints seriously. "That troubled me a lot," she says.


MY THOUGHTS

i practically inhale pain relievers. i get migraines so often, some of them awfully painful, i gulp down mefenamic acid at the very first sign of a headache. i guess i'm lucky i'm not having any stomach troubles- as this article warns.