Over-The-Counter Drugs

Over-the-counter (OTC) medications are available to the public without a prescription and have the potential of being misused or abused. Common examples of these medications are analgesics, sleep aids, and cough-and-cold remedies. Corticosteroids are also popular drugs found over the counter and are used to control inflammation and pain. Although easily accessible, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin can produce serious problems if abused. OTC medications may be obtained for a variety of ailments, such as allergies, colds, and coughs, and even as an aid to help keep someone alert when driving for long hours. Although OTC medications may seem harmless, and in fact they generally are when taken at the recommended dosages, there are many common misconceptions about these drugs. Many think they work differently than prescription drugs and that they are completely safe and do not cause any undesirable side effects. However, this is false, and individuals should be extremely cautious when taking these drugs and when giving them to children. Owing to the fact that many ingredients found in OTC medications can be addictive when misused, there are a great number of people who seek professional help for such addictions. Trained professionals can help these people who abuse such medications, and although there are relatively few people who suffer from OTC abuse, it is important that they receive the same level of treatment as anyone else who has a substance use disorder.

Many OTC medications were initially designed and marketed as prescription drugs. The Food and Drug Administration can change a prescription drug to an OTC if it has a good safety profile and is used for conditions or symptoms that can be self-diagnosed. Although OTCs are usually given in smaller dosages or are found in smaller concentrations compared with prescription medications, they work in the same way in the body and have the potential to cause the same types of side effects as prescription drugs. This is especially true if the OTC is not used as directed.