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OTC MEDICINE This past year, medication reconciliation has become a major national quality assurance initiative in the medical profession. The medical community is focused on ensuring health care providers in clinics and hospitals clearly document what medications a patient is taking. This process starts when a patient is first seen by a medical professional and records a patient’s current medications. When a patient is discharged, all documentation must accurately reflect any additional medications. Throughout a patient’s lifetime, the documentation must be continually updated so that patients and healthcare professionals have an understanding of what medications are being taken and at what times. Thus, safety is emphasized and duplication of dosages is avoided. Medication reconciliation not only involves prescribed medications, but over-the-counter medications as well. Most people do not have a clear understanding of the mechanisms of over-the-counter medications, the interactions they can have with prescribed medications, and the potential health consequences of taking several medications at once. Let’s take a look at some of the most common over-the-counter medications taken on a daily basis. Aspirin Aspirin, or acetylsalicylic acid, was one of the first anti-inflammatory medications placed on the market. It is used for pain and fever control, and has been shown to affect platelets in the blood, thus acting as a blood thinner. Studies have shown that aspirin can benefit those who have suffered from, or are at risk for, heart attacks and strokes. The biggest side effect of this medicine is its effect on the stomach and gastrointestinal tract. Stomach ulcers can develop and severe internal bleeding may occur. Once this happens, a patient must avoid using aspirin. Aspirin should also be avoided if a person is taking Coumadin, another blood thinner, as this can lead to an increased chance of bleeding. Lastly, aspirin is considered a dangerous medication for children. When a child has a viral illness and fever, aspirin should not be used as it can cause a serious and life-threatening condition called Reyes Syndrome. Acetaminophen Acetaminophen, or Tylenol, is a common pain medication and antipyretic drug used to treat fever. This is an excellent pain reliever with few side effects. It comes in a variety of forms including plain acetaminophen, within cold medications, and in prescribed drugs combined with a narcotic pain reliever. The most serious side effect of taking acetaminophen is liver damage due to over-dosage. When left untreated, permanent liver damage—including death—can occur. When the liver is severely damaged, transplant may be the only option. This medication is also commonly used in intentional overdoses due to its availability. Acetaminophen should be avoided when using alcohol. Also, over-the-counter doses should be avoided when taking prescribed narcotic combinations, as unintentional over- dosage will occur. Ibuprofen Ibuprofen, also known as Motrin, Advil, and Nuprin, was the first non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) drug approved for over-the-counter usage. Initially, it was only used for a variety of arthritic conditions, but it is now used to treat pain, inflammation and fever. This is an excellent drug, but it is not without side effects. The gastrointestinal tract is most commonly affected—just like aspirin—since both medications have similar mechanisms of action. Ulcers and bleeding can occur with the use of this medication. If this happens, future usage is not recommended. Due to their similarity in nature, aspirin and NSAIDs should not be used together because of the increased risk of bleeding. However, NSAIDs can be safely taken with acetaminophen—this is an excellent medication combination used to relieve pain or fever. Correct dosing is important and should be guided by your healthcare provider. Diphenhydramine Diphenhydramine, or Benadryl, is an antihistamine used to treat allergic reactions or provide sedation. It is marketed for allergies and used in over-the-counter sleep aids. This medication should be safely stored in the medicine cabinet and used to treat acute allergic reactions. The most common side effect of this medication is drowsiness, and thus it has been marketed as a nighttime sleep aid. It should not be taken when driving or operating machinery. Also, it is not a pain reliever and does not treat fever. These are just a few medications that can be taken without a doctor’s order. As you can see, they are safe, but not free of side effects. It is essential that you tell your healthcare provider what prescribed and non-prescribed medications you are taking, as you may need to protect yourself from undue harm caused by inadvertent over-dosage or drug interaction. |
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