That's Fit

Over-the-counter (OTC) meds are usually packaged and sealed for our protection. In fact, sometimes opening a bottle of aspirin sometimes feels like you're trying to break in to Fort Knox. But the special packaging isn't only to make it difficult to get into, it's to make it tamper resistant. So, if your OTC meds have been messed with, it will be evident to your eye. If the plastic seal is punctured, missing, or the printed words don't line up -- bring that medication right back to the store you bought it from and report the problem. Other things to look out for:

• Is the cotton insert torn, pulled, sticky, or stained? If it appears to have been reinserted, don't take any chances.
• Check the bottom of the container for punctures or other signs of tampering.
  
• Make sure none of the capsules are broken, cracked, or appear differently than the others in the package.

Looking for signs of tampering should be your first step before ever taking an OTC medication. Also, be sure to read the fine print to verify that the OTC med won't negatively interact with any prescription medications. If you have any questions, ask the pharmacist. They're happy to help out with the non-prescription medications as well!

It's interesting to see that Merck, the pharmaceutical giant, wants to make its Mevacor cholesterol-lowering drug available as an over-the-counter drug, but that is precisely what is happening.

However, the FDA wonders if making the drug available to anyone who wants it will lead to many patients taking the drug who really do not need it.

It's hard to imagine folks without high cholesterol problems seeking our Mevacor at the local Wal-Mart, but of course this would happen in an age of "fix this" medicines and instant gratification health environments.

Case in point -- only 20 percent of potential patients interviewed by Merck answered all questions correctly when quizzed about proper usage of Mevacor.

When I feeling the warning signs of a cold (sneezing, congestion, a sore throat) by first instinct is to head to the nearest pharmacy and spend a small fortune on over-the-counter medicines that will help me get a good rest during the night and also help me function well the next day. I usually try to avoid reaching for pills, but when sickness overcomes me, I become a big baby and will do anything to feel better. I suspect if I had kids, this would be my first reaction too, to given them OTC meds to make them feel better right away.

But using certain OTC meds isn't the best way to fight a cold, especially for kids, according to this article. What is? Here are some suggestions:

• Fight congestion with a humidifier and nasal drops
• Make sure the patient gets plenty of fluids
• Don't over-wrap a feverish baby -- they won't be able to cool down
• If necessary, give a small amount of acetominophin to babies over 3 months and small amount of Ibuprofen to babies over 6 months to relieve a high fever.
  

How do you handle your child's illness naturally?

Many of us assume that because a certain drug doesn't require a prescription, it's safe as long as we follow the recommended dosage. But this isn't always the case, according to CNN. They use NSAIDs as an example. NSAIDs cause side effects in 60 percent of users, and it's been known to cause intestinal bleeding in some extreme cases. You might think you're safe, that you've never taken an NSAID, but if you've ever taken Motrin or Aleve, think again -- you have.

What's worse is that most people don't admit to taking OTC drugs regularly to their doctor. If this sounds like you, 'fess up next time you're talking to your MD. It's vitally important.

Several years ago I picked my niece up from the orthodontist. I handed her a Tylenol to help with the pain of having her braces tightened. Before she had a chance to swallow it the receptionist told me that naproxen (found in Aleve and generic versions) is a better choice for relieving pain from dental work. It took me by surprise. At that time, I had no idea that one type of over-the-counter pain medication was better than another for certain types of pain.

This chart breaks down which pain relievers are the best choices for different ouches, bumps, aches, and bruises. Not only is each pain reliever medication effective for different types of pain, there are different lengths of time the medication lasts, possible side effects, and cautions to remember.

With all the new medications being developed practically on a daily basis, and new health benefits being found for "old" supplements and herbs, it's no wonder that people are ending up with more and more substances floating around in their bodies all together at the same time. Doctors and scientists are noticing more and more life-threatening side-effects being created by people mixing medications. Not necessarily just prescriptions meds, either, but also seemingly harmless supplements and OTC drugs.

A good rule of thumb is to remind yourself that if you expect it to do something good for you then it has the potential to do something bad also, if not taken properly. Just because something is "all natural" or doesn't require a prescription doesn't mean you can take it willy-nilly in whatever doses and mixed with whatever else you're taking. Read labels and ask your doctor if you have any questions. It's great to be involved in your own health, just take care not to hurt yourself and get sicker in the process.