Reading an Over-the-Counter Label
Episode 7 | 2m 30sVideo has Closed Captions
Dr. Aladraine Sands reviews tips on how to take your over-the-counter medication.
Over-the-counter medicines are medications, vitamins or nutraceuticals that do not require a prescription. It is critical to follow the directions on the label. Pay attention to the expiration date and storage information to help ensure that your over-the-counter medication is effective. Talk to your pharmacist about any questions you have.
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Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
For Your Good Health is a local public television program presented by WNPT
Reading an Over-the-Counter Label
Episode 7 | 2m 30sVideo has Closed Captions
Over-the-counter medicines are medications, vitamins or nutraceuticals that do not require a prescription. It is critical to follow the directions on the label. Pay attention to the expiration date and storage information to help ensure that your over-the-counter medication is effective. Talk to your pharmacist about any questions you have.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship(gentle music) - Good morning, Kim.
How are you?
- I'm good, how are you?
- Over-the-counter medicines are medicines or vitamins or nutraceuticals that you do not need a prescription for, and do not require medical supervision.
My name is Dr. Sands, I'm the Medical Director for Nashville Healthcare Center in Bordeaux.
On today's "For Your Good Health" I have some tips on how to take your over-the-counter medicines.
How are you doing?
- I'm good.
Thank you for seeing me.
- Good to see you.
My pleasure.
So, just kind of tell me what's going on.
Label is extremely important.
It's the only thing that you can really rely on.
It includes the active ingredient, which is the component that gives you the benefit.
It has inactive ingredients, which are like fillers, coloring, anything that helps to fill up the capsule or the tablet.
It has warnings of side effects, of who should and should not take the medicine.
But most importantly it'll also tell you what benefit you can get from taking the over-the-counter.
Directions are very important, especially since you're not using them under medical supervision, and you should pay very attention to in following them closely.
(gentle music) So, some liquids do come with measuring utensils, not all of them do.
If they do contain them, it's very important because you can have some variations if you just use your household utensils.
So it's very important for the medication to do what the label says for you to have accurate dosing, and that little device helps you do that.
(gentle music) Expiration dates are very important because it's the date by which you should not use the medicine, and the medicine can deteriorate by that date or it can release during certain parts of the digestive tract that you may not want.
It can also make the medication not effective.
(gentle music) The other information could be any information that the manufacturer deems as important.
That can include storage or temperatures.
It also lets you know that there are certain conditions by which the medication may not be effective.
(gentle music) There you go.
It's important if you have any questions with your over-the-counter label to talk to your pharmacist or your provider.
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For Your Good Health is a local public television program presented by WNPT