| OTCs Exposed! |
| PharmaNews By Dorraine Williams |
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The occasional brief departure from good health is an expected part of the human experience. Even the most committed health fanatic occasionally finds himself victim to any number of self limiting conditions for example, diarrhea, the flu, acid reflux, gas, chicken pox, headaches and sinus allergies. Since the pharmacy is freely accessible, for most persons, the quest to restoring good health begins there. In addition to prescribed medications, the pharmacy retails a host of over the counter treatments (OTCs) for these conditions. So, how does one determine which to buy? Among the overwhelming alternatives, which is best? Persons undertake three different approaches when selecting OTCs. The decided route is usually dependent on the apparent severity of the condition and the consumer’s level of expertise. The type A’s rely on selections by doctor’s recommendation only, type Bs reserve this decision for the pharmacist and type Cs scour through the options carefully reading labels and making comparisons, before making an independent decision. Only when clarity is needed does the type C solicit additional information. Regardless of the route employed when selecting the quickest most affordable OTC treatment, it is important for persons to understand the nature of simple self limiting conditions and their respective treatments. The human experience ensures that we will routinely make repeated purchases of these items. So, for the benefit of the type A’s and Bs who may need an influx of empowerment and to the benefit of the types C’s who may need further direction, a list of guidelines to follow when selecting an OTC is presented below.
OTC Selection: Dos and Don’ts.
· Do ensure that the product of choice adequately suits the ailment being treated. Examine the active ingredients and look for information on the package outlining the indications for each ingredient.
· Promotional information on package labeling may be misleading or ambiguous. Do seek guidance to confirm your selection or to clarify package information.
· Do ensure that the selected product is age appropriate for the intended person. Some medications indicated for children are heavily marketed as such. However, there are those which can be used by both adults and children and so will not specify. The ‘adult’ dose is recommended for persons 12 years of age and older, while younger age groups require specified dosing according to age and sometimes weight.
· Do ensure that you know the specified dose for your infant or toddler. If your child is below the minimum age specific dose on the product, do consult the pharmacist or doctor for confirmation that the product is appropriate and for a recommended dose.
· Do exercise your freedom to seek recommendations from your doctor or pharmacist when needed. They are experts in the field and so possess the capacity to make the most appropriate selections. However, it is good practice to read the information on the selected product to confirm the selection in order to avoid bad purchases due to possible miscommunication and also to familiarize yourself with the product for future reference.
· Many over the counter items have multiple indications so do ensure that your purchase suits your symptom or combination of symptoms as closely as possible. For example, the selection of a medication which treats runny nose, sneezing and coughing would be a poor selection if you have no cough. There are products available with those specific indications from which a selection could be made.
· Don’t make selections based on partial recollection of a product used eons ago for a somewhat similar condition you or a close relative may have had.
· If you become overwhelmed or confused by the wide variety of products, don’t make a decision. Ask for help.
· Don’t make a decision on cost alone. It is more costly to make a poor selection, having to return to make a better one, than to purchase the right medication is the first instance.
For additional information and queries, send an email to PharmaNewsskn@gmail.com
Next Week: OTCs Exposed!- Selecting Cold and Flu medications, what you need to know! |
