Over–The–Counter
Drugs ( OTC’
What It Is: Over the counter drugs are any remedy or medicine available without a prescription. Some common examples are aspirin, ibuprofen, cough syrups, allergy medicines etc. These products or medicines, herbal products, food supplements, etc., are used to treat many different ailments and are sold in a variety of different stores.
Type of Drug: These products have a wide variety of ingredients and can produce effects similar to stimulants and/or depressants depending on the product.
Method of Use: Depending on the product and its purpose it will either be taken internally or used externally like a lotion or spray.
Health Risks: These substances are meant to be used “As Directed”. This means that you should pay close attention to the sections on the product label. There is important information under the Active Ingredients and Purpose sections. Pay close attention to the Warnings, Directions and Other Information sections as well. As with any product, make sure that you check the expiration date on the bottle. Just as with prescription drugs, over – the – counter drugs (OTC’s), herbal products and food supplements can produce unwanted and even dangerous side effects when mixed with other drugs. Make sure that you always read and follow label instructions carefully. And remember, just because the label refers to a product, as “natural” doesn’t automatically make it safe.
Combining drugs of any kind, legal or illegal, can produce drug interactions that are unpredictable and potentially dangerous. The fact that prescription drugs and OTC’s are regulated by the federal government means that you can be sure of their purity, something you do not know with illegal drugs, but it does not mean that they are necessarily safe if not used as directed.
Warning: Mixing OTC’s with alcohol and/or any legal or illegal drug is extremely dangerous. It can be at times Fatal.
Legal Status: Legal when purchased and used according to directions for the purpose intended.
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