Download Some Common Over‐The‐Counter Medications

Some Common Over‐The‐Counter Medications Information Revised 10‐20‐2015 This summary is intended to provide a brief explanation of a few common over‐the‐counter medications. These can be used in home based care and remote care settings. Do not use this information as your sole source of information. Additional uses, side effects, dosages, and warnings are not included here! Some commercial brand names may not be listed. Note that some over‐the‐counter medications may be blends of different medicines. Be aware of contents so you can manage correct dosages and prevent double dosing. Follow label directions for the appropriate dose. Some medications can be compromised by extreme hot and/or cold. Credit: Thanks to www.drugs.com for much of this content. Analgesic: Acetaminophen (oral) Brand Names: Tylenol Tylenol (acetaminophen) is a pain reliever and a fever reducer. Tylenol is used to treat many conditions such as headache, muscle aches, arthritis, backache, toothaches, colds, and fevers. Analgesic: Aspirin (oral) Brand Names: Arthritis Pain, Ascriptin Enteric, Aspir 81, Aspir‐Low, Bayer Aspirin, Bayer Childrens Aspirin, Bufferin, Easprin, Ecotrin, Ecpirin, Fasprin, Halfprin, Miniprin, St. Joseph Aspirin Aspirin is salicylate acid, historically distilled from the bark of the willow tree. It is currently synthetically manufactured. Aspirin is used to treat pain, and reduce fever or inflammation. Aspirin is sometimes used to treat or prevent heart attacks and chest pain (angina). Analgesic: Ibuprofen (oral) Brand Names: Advil, Advil Childrens, Advil Junior Strength, Advil Pediatric, Genpril, IBU, Midol IB, Midol Maximum Strength Cramp Formula, Motrin Childrens, Motrin IB, Motrin Infant Drops, Motrin Migraine Pain, Proprinal, Smart Sense Children's Ibuprofen Ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drug (NSAID). It works by reducing hormones that cause inflammation and pain in the body. Ibuprofen is used to reduce fever and treat pain or inflammation caused by many conditions such as headache, toothache, back pain, arthritis, menstrual cramps, or minor injury. Page 1 of 3 Antibiotic (Topical) Triple Antibiotics (US blend): bacitracin, neomycin, and polymyxin B (topical) Brand Name: Medi‐Quik, Neosporin, Triple Antibiotic Bacitracin, neomycin, and polymyxin B are antibiotics that kill bacteria on your skin. Bacitracin, neomycin, and polymyxin B topical (for the skin) is a combination medicine used as a first aid antibiotic to prevent infections in minor cuts, scrapes, or burns on your skin. This medication can be applied up to 3 times each day, or as directed on the medicine label. Cover the wound with a bandage to keep wound clean and prevent the antibiotic from being wiped away. Clean the wound and use a new bandage each time you apply the medicine. Use the ointment for as many days as recommended on the label or by a doctor, even if symptoms start getting better. Symptoms may improve before the infection is completely cleared. Anti‐Diaharrhretic: Loperamide (Imodium) Brand Names: Diamode, Imodium A‐D, Imodium A‐D EZ Chews, Imodium A‐D New Formula, Kao‐Paverin, Kaopectate 1‐D Loperamide slows the rhythm of digestion so that the small intestines have more time to absorb fluid and nutrients from the foods you eat. Loperamide is used to treat diarrhea. Anti‐Fungal Topical There are many topical antifungal drugs useful in the treatment of athlete's foot including: miconazole nitrate, clotrimazole, tolnaftate (a synthetic thiocarbamate, terbinafine hydrochloride, butenafine hydrochloride and undecylenic acid. There are multiple types of fungus that can cause athlete’s foot and associated fungal skin problems. The several different commercial topical creams may to better at working on different types of fungal infections. Treatment should continue for one to two weeks after the all layers of skin have healed, to insure that deeply embedded fungal spores are killed. These topical creams will work on other moist/dark areas such as armpits and groin area. Antihistamine: Diphenhydramine Brand Names: Aler‐Tab, Allergy, Allermax, Altaryl, Benadryl, Children's Allergy, Diphen Cough, Diphenhist, Dytuss, Q‐Dryl, Siladryl, Silphen Cough, Simply Sleep, Sleep‐ettes, Sominex Maximum Strength Caplet, Theraflu Thin Strips Multi Symptom, Triaminic Thin Strips Cough & Runny Nose, Unisom Sleepgels Maximum Strength, Valu‐Dryl Diphenhydramine is an antihistamine. Diphenhydramine blocks the effects of the naturally occurring chemical histamine in the body. Benadryl is used to treat sneezing, runny nose, itching, watery eyes, hives, rashes, itching, and other symptoms of allergies and the common cold. Benadryl is also used to suppress coughs, to treat motion sickness, to induce sleep, and to treat mild forms of Parkinson's disease. If used for anaphylaxis then pulverize the tablets to administer or use liquid type. Can also be used as a topical cream. Antihistamine: Loratadine (Claritin, Alavert) Brand Names: Alavert, Claritin, Claritin Reditab, Clear‐Atadine, Dimetapp ND, ohm Allergy Relief, QlearQuil All Day & Night, Tavist ND, Wal‐itin Loratadine is an antihistamine that reduces the effects of natural chemical histamine in the body. Histamine can produce symptoms of sneezing, itching, watery eyes, and runny nose. It is used to treat sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes, hives, skin rash, itching, and other cold or allergy symptoms Page 2 of 3 Cough Medicine: Guaifenesin Brand Names: Duratuss G, Ganidin NR, GG 200 NR, Guaifenesin LA, Liquibid, Muco‐Fen 1200, Organidin NR, Q‐Bid LA, Robitussin, Scot‐Tussin Guaifenesin is an expectorant. It helps loosen congestion in the chest and throat, making it easier to cough out through the mouth. Guaifenesin is used to reduce chest congestion caused by the common cold, infections, or allergies. Skin Aid: Calamine Lotion Brand Name: Calamine Calamine is an anti‐itch medicine that works by causing a cooling sensation as it evaporates on your skin. Calamine also dries oozing or weeping from minor skin irritation. Calamine topical (for the skin) is used to treat itching and skin irritation caused by chickenpox, insect bites or stings, measles, eczema, sunburn, poison ivy, and other minor skin conditions Skin Aid: Hydrocortisone (topical) Brand Name: Ala‐Cort, Ala‐Scalp HP, Aquanil HC, Beta HC, Caldecort, Cortaid, Cortaid Maximum Strength, Cortizone‐5, Dermarest Plus Anti‐Itch, Dermasorb HC, Dermtex HC, Gynecort Maximum Strength, Instacort, Itch‐X Lotion, Locoid, Pandel, Pediaderm HC, Recort Plus, Sarnol‐HC, Scalacort, Texacort, U‐Cort, Westcort, plus many more not listed. Hydrocortisone is a topical steroid. It reduces the actions of chemicals in the body that cause inflammation. Hydrocortisone topical is used to treat inflammation of the skin caused by a number of conditions such as allergic reactions, eczema, or psoriasis. Skin Moisturizers: Topical Emollients Brand Names: AlphaSoft, Aquaphor, Aveeno, Baby Lotion, Baby Oil, Bag Balm, Blistex Lip Balm, Carmex, CeraVe, Cetaphil Lotion, Chap Stick, Corn Huskers Lotion, Curel Moisture Lotion, Eucerin, Gold Bond Ultimate Healing, Lubriderm, Mederma, Moisturel, Natural Ice, Neutrogena Lotion, Nivea, Nutraderm, Pacquin, Phisoderm, Pretty Feet & Hands, Replens, Soft Sense, St. Ives, Vaseline Intensive Care, plus many more not listed. Emollients are substances that moisten and soften your skin. Topical (for the skin) emollients are used to treat or prevent dry skin. Topical emollients are sometimes contained in products that also treat acne, chapped lips, diaper rash, cold sores, or other minor skin irritations Stomach Aid: Bismuth Subsalicylate (Pepto Bismol) Brand Names: Pepto‐Bismol, Kaopectate Treating heartburn, upset stomach, indigestion, nausea, diarrhea, or symptoms associated with eating or drinking. It may be used to decrease the number of bowel movements and make the stool firmer. Pepto‐Bismol is a salicylate. The way that it works is not fully understood. It is thought to limit secretions in the digestive tract, reduce inflammation in the stomach and intestines, and inhibit the growth of certain bacteria and viruses that can cause intestinal tract diseases. Use will turn the feces dark, or have dark streaks. Page 3 of 3