Know your meds

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I am constantly amazed that many smart, health conscious folks have big gaps in their knowledge about common over-the-counter medications, and their own prescribed medication, for that matter.

One thing that I hope that I passed along to my kids before they left home was a few rules:

1. Don't take anything that you don't know what is.

2. Take each medication for a specific symptom, one drug at a time.  Never take multiple symptom relievers, like Cold and Flu medication.

3. Do not take medication from anyone if it does not come in a bottle or package you can read.

4. Throw out outdated medication.

5. Never take a partial course of antibiotics.  Take them all as they are prescribed.  

6. Don't take someone else's prescribed medication.  This is not only stupid, but illegal.

Having said that, here is a little glossary for you to learn the generic equivalent of common drugs:

Acetimenophen.................Tylenol

Acetylsalicylic acid.........Aspirin, abbreviated ASA

Antihystamine...................A medication that counters the allergic reaction in the body by protecting cells from the irritation of hystamine release.  These include Benadryl, Chlor Trimeton, Loratidine, and these:

 

First-Generation OTC Antihistamines

• Brompheniramine (brand names: Dimetapp Cold & Allergy Elixir, Robitussin Allergy & Cough Liquid)
• Chlorpheniramine (one brand name: Singlet)
• Dimenhydrinate (one brand name: Dramamine Original)
• Diphenhydramine (some brand names: Benadryl Allergy, Nytol, Sominex)
• Doxylamine (two brand names: Vicks NyQuil, Alka-Seltzer Plus Night-Time Cold Medicine)

Second-Generation OTC Antihistamines

• Loratadine (some brand names: Alavert, Claritin)

Diphenhydramine...........Benadryl.  Benadryl is an effective antihystamine.  That means that if you react allergically to something, this drug can counter the effects of the allergic reaction, which is a hystamine reaction.  It also makes you drowsy.  It is the PM in just about every over-the-counter sleep aid, like Midol PM, Advil PM, Tylenol PM.  Refer to number 2, above.

Ibuprofen...........................Advil

NSAIDs...............................Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, including ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Nuprin, Excedrin IB, Midol IB, Genpril, Haltran, etc.), naproxen (Naprosyn, Aleve, Anaprox, Naprelan, Synflex), COX-2 inhibitors (e.g. prescription brand Celebrex)

A special note about aspirin:  there is no such thing as baby aspirin, that is, any aspirin intended for babies.  It is an old fashioned, outdated term that refers to 81 milligram aspirin tablets formulated by Bayer Company to taste like orange so that children would take them.  We now know that children under eighteen should NEVER take aspirin unless prescribed by a doctor, because of the potential for deadly Reyes' disease.  Many Americans take a daily 81 mg. aspirin for heart disease prevention, and some are flavored, some are coated with 'enteric coating', meaning that they will dissolve in the intestines, not the stomach, thereby preventing stomach bleeding or upset.  Don't give kids aspirin!

Well, this is only a start.  If it is helpful, let me know.  It is just a favorite subject of mine.  I want you to know what you are ingesting and why, and not take anything extra.

You get my point, though, right?  Brand names get in the way, and are often a reason people spend too much money on over-the-counter medication, or don't realize what they are taking because we refer to the brand name commonly.