Wal-Mart estimates that 60 percent of its stores are already selling non-prescription cold and allergy medicines behind the counter. The company joins Target and Albertson's in ordering the changes in all of its stores. Posted pm by Chantelle Janelle. Skip to content. Send It To Military Greetings. Severe Weather Alerts. Jim Hudson Weather Day Forecast. These include sleeping pills, sedatives, or muscle relaxants. Be sure not to take too much antihistamine. Many OTC cold and allergy medicines contain them already.
Some prescription medicines do, too. If you take more than 1 of these medicines, you may get much more antihistamine than is good for you. Second-generation antihistamines are less likely to interact with other medicines you are taking. Always talk to your doctor if you take other medicines to make sure they are safe.
Talk to your doctor before using a first-generation antihistamine if you have any of the following health problems:. If you have kidney or liver disease, talk to your doctor before taking a second-generation antihistamine. Last Updated: July 21, This information provides a general overview and may not apply to everyone. Talk to your family doctor to find out if this information applies to you and to get more information on this subject.
Decongestants are medicines that relieve a congested nose. Visit The Symptom Checker. Read More. Path to improved well being When your body is exposed to allergens allergy triggers , it makes histamines.
First-generation OTC antihistamines These were among the first antihistamines scientists developed. Common kinds include: Loratadine brand names include Alavert, Claritin Cetirizine brand names include Zyrtec Fexofenadine brand names include Allegra Note: Some antihistamines are mixed with other medicines. How do I safely take OTC antihistamines?
Taking more than the recommended amount can be dangerous. Mixing medicines can be dangerous. Syringes must be stored behind the counter, and the pharmacy must provide verbal counseling or written information regarding how to access drug treatment, how to access HIV and hepatitis screening and treatment, and how to safely dispose of used syringes. The concept of a third class of drugs had languished for years chiefly due to opposition from the FDA and those who did not want the pharmacist to be granted additional medical responsibilities.
However, the rise of methamphetamine meth labs created an environment favorable to the third class. Pseudoephedrine PSE was the most widespread starter chemical for meth production. Individual states e. Congress and federal authorities saw the wisdom of the state laws and realized that a national law would also be extremely beneficial.
Eventually, President George W. With passage of this law, pharmacists became the gatekeepers for PSE sales. While nonpharmacy personnel can handle some aspects of the transaction, the law requires hands-on approval and completion of the sale by a pharmacist. The legal limit for purchase is 3. In the ideal situation, pharmacists would ask the same types of questions of PSE patients that should be asked of patients requesting any other group of nonprescription products prior to sale.
It would be prudent to first ask patients whether they are experiencing additional symptoms. They should mention additional symptoms that help confirm presence of the common cold e. If a patient cannot do so, it is best to refer him or her to a physician for diagnosis of the problem causing the nasal congestion. Patients should be asked if they have such medical conditions as fever, heart disease, thyroid disease, hypertension, diabetes, or prostate insufficiency, or whether they are pregnant or breastfeeding.
PSE products carry a warning against self-use if the symptoms do not improve in 7 days. Have you been using it recently? Thus, legitimizing PSE sales goes far beyond the relatively simple step of detecting overuse via electronic logbooks.
Of course, those seeking PSE for illegal purposes will eventually learn the questions and formulate acceptable responses in advance, but the questions should be asked nonetheless.
State legal authorities have acted against pharmacists and pharmacies that refuse to obey the law. This agent was originally approved by the FDA in as a nonprescription product for women aged 18 years and above, but is now nonprescription for those aged 17 years and above. Emergency contraceptives most often function by preventing or delaying release of the ovum from the ovaries, but may also hamper implantation of a fertilized egg.
The latter point is the focus of controversy, and has caused pharmacists to refuse to stock or sell it because of their personal beliefs.
For pharmacists who do stock the product, there are many questions. Should sales be documented in a logbook? If a young man claims that his girlfriend is 17 years old, should the pharmacist demand that the woman come in herself to present her ID? Is any government agency responsible for monitoring these sales? Should the FDA or state authorities plan sting operations in the same manner as they control underage sales of tobacco or alcohol? The congestion can be caused by a cold virus or by the flu, sinusitis, or allergies.
Most decongestants come in pill or liquid form. When you buy decongestants at the store without a prescription, they are called over-the-counter OTC medicines.
Decongestant nose sprays and drops are also available over the counter. Your body can become dependent on them. If you become dependent on these medicines, your nose may feel even more stuffed up when you quit using them.
Pseudoephedrine is safe and effective when taken as directed. But some people use OTC pseudoephedrine illegally. Meth is an illegal and dangerous street drug. To help keep people from making meth, OTC medicines that contain pseudoephedrine are sold behind the counter.
But you will have to ask your pharmacist for them. Additional restrictions include:. Some states have more requirements for medicines containing pseudoephedrine. When your body detects a virus, the flu, sinusitis, or allergies, it sends extra blood to the blood vessels in the nose to fight the problem. This leads to swelling of the blood vessels and tissue in your nose. It makes you feel stuffy.
It can be hard to breathe through your nose. Decongestants work by narrowing the blood vessels in your nose. Swollen tissue inside the nose shrinks, and air can pass through more easily. Before you take OTC decongestants, read the directions on the drug facts label. It will tell you how much medicine to take and how often to take it. If you have any questions, call your doctor.
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