OTC Medications: Understanding the Risks



  • Take too much medication

  • Use the medication for too long a period of time

  • Use the medication in the wrong way


Pain relievers

OTC pain relievers are typically used for mild pain or fever. Acetaminophen is 1 active ingredient in common pain relievers. Other pain relievers called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, include:

  • Aspirin

  • Ibuprofen

  • Naproxen sodium

These drugs are generally safe and free of side effects. If not correctly, they can cause the following problems:

  • Taking too much acetaminophen can cause liver damage.




Most problems caused by laxatives are because of overuse. Generally, OTC laxatives are not recommended for people with mild constipation. If you have long-term constipation, your health care provider may recommend a laxative for a short period of time.

If you use a laxative often, you may become dependent on laxatives to have a bowel movement. You may also need to take more and more laxatives to get the same results.

Heartburn remedies

Traditional OTC drugs for heartburn are antacids with familiar household names. They work by canceling the effects of acid in the stomach. Newer remedies, such as H2 blockers and proton pump inhibitors, stop the acid from being made.


Sleep aids

OTC sleep aids don't cause "sleepwalking," as some prescription sleep medicines do. However, they still have risks. Some OTC sleep aids last longer than 8 hours. This means you may still be drowsy after using the drug to sleep through the night.
