Also called: Also called: Non-prescription drugs, OTC medicines
Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines are drugs you can buy without a prescription. Some OTC medicines relieve aches, pains and itches. Some prevent or cure diseases, like tooth decay and athlete's foot. Others help manage recurring problems, like migraines.
In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration decides whether a medicine is safe enough to sell over-the-counter. Taking OTC medicines still has risks. Some interact with other medicines, supplements, foods or drinks. Others cause problems for people with certain medical conditions. If you're pregnant, talk to your health care provider before taking any medicines.
When it comes to medicines, more does not necessarily mean better. You should never take OTC medicines longer or in higher doses than the label recommends. If your symptoms don't go away, it’s a clear signal that it's time to see your healthcare provider.
Food and Drug Administration
- Be MedWise Quiz(National Council on Patient Information and Education) - http://www.bemedwise.org/quiz_facts/quiz.htm
- Medicines in My Home: Information for Adults on Using Over-the-Counter Medicines Safely(Center for Drug Evaluation and Research) - http://www.fda.gov/medsinmyhome/MIMH_booklet_adult.htm
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OTC Drugs: Getting the Most from Your Medicine(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/otc-center/basics/851.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/otc-center/basics/851.printerview.html
- Be MedWise(National Council on Patient Information and Education) - http://www.bemedwise.org/
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Frequently Asked Questions about Pharmacogenetics
(National Institute of General Medical Sciences) - http://www.nigms.nih.gov/Initiatives/PGRN/Background/pgrn_faq.htm
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MedlinePlus: Drug Information(American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Natural Standard) - Information on prescription and over-the-counter medicines and supplements - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginformation.html
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/druginformation.html
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Over-the-Counter Medicines: What's Right for You?(Food and Drug Administration) - http://www.fda.gov/cder/consumerinfo/WhatsRightForYou.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.fda.gov/cder/consumerinfo/WhatsRightForYouSpan.pdf
- Types of OTC (Over-the-Counter) Medicines and How They Work(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/otc-center/basics/otc.printerview.html
- Over-the-Counter Cold Medicines Sending Children to Emergency Rooms(08/04/2008, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_67733.html
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Antihistamines: Understanding Your OTC Options(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/otc-center/otc-medicines/857.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/otc-center/otc-medicines/857.printerview.html
- Some Cold Medicines Move behind Counter(Food and Drug Administration) - http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2006/406_meth.html
- Use Caution with Over-the-Counter Creams, Ointments(Food and Drug Administration) - http://www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/otc_creams040108.html
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Generic Drugs: Questions and Answers(Food and Drug Administration) - http://www.fda.gov/cder/consumerinfo/generics_q&a.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.fda.gov/cder/consumerinfo/generics_q&aSpanish.htm
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Harmful Interactions: Mixing Alcohol with Medicines
(National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism) - http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/Medicine/medicine.htm
Also available in Spanish http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/MedSpanish/medicine.htm - Just Ask!...About Tips against Tampering(United States Pharmacopeial Convention) - Links to PDF - http://www.usp.org/pdf/EN/patientSafety/justAskTampering.pdf
- New Over-the-Counter Medicine Label: Take a Look(Food and Drug Administration) - http://www.fda.gov/cder/consumerinfo/OTClabel.htm
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OTC Drugs: Reducing the Risk of Adverse Effects(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/otc-center/basics/852.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/otc-center/basics/852.printerview.html
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OTC Drugs: Special Groups at Risk of Adverse Effects(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/otc-center/basics/853.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/otc-center/basics/853.printerview.html
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Use Over-the-Counter Medicines Wisely(National Council on Patient Information and Education) - Links to PDF - http://www.bemedwise.org/brochure/bemedwise_english_brochure.pdf
Also available in Spanish http://www.bemedwise.org/brochure/bemedwise_spanish_brochure.pdf
- Be MedWise Quiz(National Council on Patient Information and Education) - http://www.bemedwise.org/quiz_facts/quiz.htm
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Taking Medicines
(National Institute of General Medical Sciences) - http://nihseniorhealth.gov/takingmedicines/toc.html
- Misuse of Over-the-Counter Cough and Cold Medications among Persons Aged 12 to 25(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) - http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/2k8/cough/cough.htm
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Understanding a Drug's Journey Through the Body(National Institute of General Medical Sciences) - http://www.nigms.nih.gov/Publications/FactSheet_Drugs.htm
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Cough and cold medication use by US children, 1999-2006: results... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18676518&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Unexpected infant deaths associated with use of cough and cold... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18676517&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Over-the-counter medications for acute cough symptoms. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18649610&tool=MedlinePlus
- Over-the-Counter Medicines -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=drugs,non-prescription[majr]+AND+english[la]+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Center for Drug Evaluation and Research - http://www.fda.gov/cder/
- Food and Drug Administration - http://www.fda.gov/
- Institute for Safe Medication Practices - http://www.ismp.org/
- FDA Law Enforcers Protect Consumers' Health(Food and Drug Administration) - http://www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/oci072307.html
- As They Grow: Teaching Your Children How to Use Medicines Safely(Center for Drug Evaluation and Research) - http://www.fda.gov/medsinmyhome/MIMH_as_they_grow.htm
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How to Give Medicine to Children(Food and Drug Administration) - http://www.fda.gov/opacom/lowlit/medchld.html
Also available in Spanish http://www.fda.gov/opacom/lowlit/smedchld.html
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Kids Aren't Just Small Adults: Medicines, Children and the Care Every Child Deserves(Food and Drug Administration) - http://www.fda.gov/cder/consumerinfo/kids.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.fda.gov/cder/consumerinfo/kidsspanish.htm
- Medicines in My Home: Information for Students on the Safe Use of Over-the-Counter Medicines(Food and Drug Administration) - Links to PDF - http://www.fda.gov/cder/medsinmyhome/documents/MIMH_booklet_student.pdf
- OTC Cough and Cold Products: Not For Infants and Children Under 2 Years of Age(Food and Drug Administration) - http://www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/coughcold011708.html
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Cough and Cold Medicine Abuse(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/talk/cough_cold_medicine_abuse.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/parent/en_espanol/padres/cough_cold_medicine_abuse_esp.html
- Over-the-Counter Medications and Breastfeeding(Cleveland Clinic Foundation) - http://my.clevelandclinic.org/healthy_living/breastfeeding/hic_over-the-counter_medications_and_breastfeeding.aspx
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Medicines: Use Them Safely(National Institute on Aging) - http://www.niapublications.org/agepages/medicine.asp
Also available in Spanish http://www.niapublications.org/agepages/medicine-sp.asp
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Taking Medicines(National Institute of General Medical Sciences) - http://nihseniorhealth.gov/takingmedicines/toc.html
- Drug Safety - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/drugsafety.html
- Medicines - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/medicines.html
- Pain Relievers - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/painrelievers.html
- Drug Therapy - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/drugtherapy.html