Tag Archive

What is Pseudoephedrine? Pseudoephedrine is a drug that has been most commonly used as an ingredient in the previously over-the-counter medication, Sudafed, which is used as a nasal decongestant. Pseudoephedrine is present in some medications without a prescription, and it is available in drugstores behind the pharmacy counter. The US Food and Drug Administration sets […]

What Are Over-the-Counter Drugs? Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs are everywhere. You may frequently encounter some of these medicines on store shelves and home medicine cabinets. If you can walk into a grocery store, pharmacy, or gas station and buy a drug that promises to treat the symptoms of an illness or problem, it is likely an […]

What is Acetaminophen? Acetaminophen was approved for use by the Food and Drug Administration in 1951. Even though it has a long history of being widely used, experts do not know exactly how acetaminophen works on the body. It is thought to reduce the amount of chemicals in the brain that cause inflammation and swelling. […]

Dramamine is a brand name for the drug dimenhydrinate. It is an over-the-counter antihistamine that is typically used for relief from nausea and vomiting. Dimenhydrinate is commonly used for those who are sensitive to motion sickness during travel, such as those who become ill from travel in planes or cars. Products containing dimenhydrinate are also […]

The abuse of over-the-counter (OTC) medications is particularly problematic because a large number of individuals under age 26 abuse these substances, and of course, many OTC drugs are easily obtained. According to an article in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, individuals who use over-the-counter medications tend to: Several different categories of […]

Dextromethorphan, commonly referred to as DXM, is a cough suppressant found in more than 120 over-the-counter cold medications.1,2 Typically in extra-strength cough syrups, tablets, and gel capsules, DXM is either the primary ingredient or mixed in combination with other medications like antihistamines, analgesics, expectorants, and decongestants.3 When misused in high doses, DXM can cause euphoria […]

Dextromethorphan is a cough suppressant found in many over-the-counter cold and flu medications, including cough syrups. When codeine, a mild opioid narcotic, was moved to Schedule III and required a prescription for purchase, drugs containing dextromethorphan were popularized since the active ingredient was believed to be safer. Unfortunately, dextromethorphan has been shown to be habit-forming […]