Health News.

MANY OTC REMEDIES FOUND WORTHLESS

In recent years, a panel of experts appointed by the FDA has reviewed the effectiveness, safety and accuracy of claims made on the labels of all OTC remedies for cough, colds and other respiratory ailments. Literally hundreds of specific products were found unsafe and ineffective and have been removed from the market. About those remaining on drugstore and pharmacy shelves, the FDA has released the following advice.

Medications consisting of a single ingredient tend to be more effective than those which attempt a shotgun approach by claiming to have “a combination of medically-active ingredients.” Many of the ingredients are often inappropriate for relief of cold symptoms. A brew of different drugs may also interact and work against each other, or cancel out each other’s benefits. They may also compound side effects. For example, large concentrations of caffeine are often included to offset the drowsiness produced by antihistamines which, in turn, offer no benefit at all to cold sufferers and are effective only against allergies. Many cold remedies contain a mix of antihistamine, pain relievers and nasal decongestants, usually in amounts too small to be effective.

If you do decide to use an OTC preparation, aim for a single-ingredient product designed specifically for the symptom you wish to relieve. Avoid a mix of many drugs, the only aim of which is to support the extravagant advertising claim on the product’s label.

Be aware, also, that many OTC nose and throat preparations may irritate the mucous membranes and prolong infection. Among the most common side effects of OTC cold, cough and hayfevcr remedies are drowsiness, dry mouth, headache, nausea, irregular heartbeat, blunted vision, skin rash, increased nervousness, mood alterations and raised blood pressure. To offset these side effects, some preparations contain aspirin substitutes.

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