Transcript OTC Drug Notes

OVER THE COUNTER
DRUGS
OTC MEDICINES
• Drugs/Medicines you can buy without a
prescription
• OTC medicines may relieve aches, pains and
itches.
• Some may prevent or cure diseases, like tooth
decay and athlete's foot.
• Others help manage recurring problems, like
migraines or cold symptoms.
OVER THE COUNTER (OTC)/PRESCRIPTION
DRUGS
• 1. All medicines in US must meet standards set by
FDA – Food and Drug Administration
• 2. Prescription Meds – given only with the written
approval of a licensed physician
• 3. OTC Meds – medicines you can buy without a
prescription
OTC MEDICINES
• Active ingredients
• Dosage strength
• Dosage form
• Warning & directions for
use
ANALGESICS (PAIN RELIEVERS)
• Tylenol (Acetaminophen )
• Most popular
• Good for mild to moderate levels of pain
• Reduces fever (antipyretic)
• Doesn’t upset stomach
ANALGESICS (PAIN RELIEVERS)
• Tylenol (Acetaminophen )
• Will not help with inflammation or thinning of the
blood (anticoagulant)
• May effect liver
• It works by changing the way the body senses
pain and by cooling the body
ANALGESICS
• Aspirin (Acetylsalicylic Acid)
• Mild to moderate pain reliever
• Reduces fever (antipyretic) some bacteria and
viruses are killed by higher temperatures
• Antiplatelet (blood thinning properties)
ANALGESICS
• Aspirin (Acetylsalicylic Acid)
• Anti-inflammatory
• It works by stopping the production of certain
chemicals (prostaglandins) that cause fever,
pain, swelling, and blood clots.
ASPIRIN (ACETYLSALICYLIC ACID)
• Can upset stomach (reduces mucus lining)
• Prolongs bleeding time
• Reyes Syndrome:
• Can cause brain damage, coma, and
death if taken during flu or chicken pox
episodes for young people .
• Reyes Syndrome
• The CDC, FDA, AAP, and the U.S. Surgeon General
recommend that aspirin and products containing aspirin
not be given to children under 19 years of age during
episodes of fever causing illness.
• Aspirin Warning
• “Children and teenagers who have or are
recovering from chicken pox, flu symptoms
or flu should NOT use this product. If
nausea, vomiting, or fever occur, consult a
doctor because these symptoms could be an
early sign of Reye’s Syndrome, a rare but
serious illness.”
ANALGESICS
• Advil/Motrin (Ibuprofen)
• Mild to moderate pain reliever, fever reducer, &
and anti-inflammatory
• Became OTC in 1984
• BEST for inflammation
• Can upset stomach
ANALGESICS
• Advil/Motrin (Ibuprofen)
• Works at a lower dose and lasts longer
than aspirin
• It works by stopping the body's production of
chemicals (prostaglandins) that causes pain,
fever, and inflammation.
ANALGESICS
• Aleve (Naproxen)
• Similar to aspirin
• Became OTC 1994
• Last about 2x as long as others in the body
• Can cause kidney problems
ANTIHISTAMINES
• Antihistamines
• Can prevent histamines from attaching to your
cells and causing symptoms (ex. Itching,
swelling, runny nose, watery eyes)
• Histamines
• substances that try to attach to the cells in
your body and irritate them (allergic
reactions)
ANTIHISTAMINES
• Common examples
• Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
• Loratadine (Alavert, Claritin)
• Dimenhydrinate (Dramamine)
• Doxylamine (Vicks NyQuil, Alka-Seltzer Plus NightTime Cold Medicine)
DECONGESTANTS
• Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed)
• Narrow the blood vessels in the nose reducing
swelling in the nasal passage.
• reduces the amount of mucous made by your
nose.
• Although Pseudoephedrine is an OTC medicine
it’s sale is limited.
ANTI-TUSSIVES
• Substances that suppress coughing
• Raises coughing threshold
• Should not be used to suppress a productive cough
• productive cough vs. non-productive cough
• A productive cough produces phlegm or mucus (sputum). The
mucus may have drained down the back of the throat from the
nose or sinuses or may have come up from the lungs
• A nonproductive cough is dry and does not produce sputum. A dry,
hacking cough may develop toward the end of a cold or after
exposure to an irritant, such as dust or smoke
EXPECTORANTS
• Loosen mucus from the respiratory tract.
STIMULANTS
• Products containing caffeine
• Elevates heart rate
• Increase alertness
• Mild diuretic (increases urine output)
• Can cause tremors, nervousness, stomach
irritation, and headaches
STIMULANTS
• Examples of products containing caffeine:
• No Doz Tablets 100 mg
• Vivarin tablets 200 mg
VITAMINS
• Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin that is naturally
present in some foods, added to others, and available
as a dietary supplement and a prescription medication.
• Vitamin B12 is required for proper red blood cell
formation, neurological function, and DNA synthesis
• Vitamin B6 is a water-soluble vitamin. Vitamin B6 is
needed for protein metabolism. It is also essential for
red blood cell metabolism. The nervous and immune
systems need vitamin B 6 to function efficiently
VITAMINS
• a B vitamin essential for the normal function of the
nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract
OVER THE COUNTER (OTC)/PRESCRIPTION
DRUGS
Medicine Misuse – unintentional use of medicine
•
Ex. Taking too much or too little of a med
Medicine abuse – intentionally taking medications for
nonmedical reasons
Drug Overdose – a strong, sometimes fatal reaction to
taking a large amount of a drug