RUG INTERACTIONS: WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

1 DRUGINTERACTIONS: what YOUSHOULD KNOWC ouncil on Family HealthDrug InteractionsThere are more opportunities today than everbefore to learn about your health and to takebetter care of yourself. It is also more important than ever to know about the medicinesyou take. If you take several different medicines, see more than one doctor or have certain healthconditions, you and your doctors need to be awareof all the medicines you take to avoid potential problems, such as drug interactions may make your drug less effec-tive, cause unexpected side effects or increase theaction of a particular drug. Some drug interactionscan even be harmful to you.

2 Reading the label everytime you use a nonprescription or prescription drugand taking the time to learn about drug interactionsmay be critical to your health. You can reduce therisk of potentially harmful drug interactions and sideeffects with a little bit of knowledge and common interactions fall into three broad categories: Drug-drug interactions occur when twoor more drugs react with each other. This drug-drug interaction may cause you to experience anunexpected side effect. For example, mixing adrug you take to help you sleep (a sedative) anda drug you take for allergies (an antihistamine)can slow your reactions and make driving a caror operating machinery dangerous.

3 Drug-food/beverage interactionsresult from drugs reacting with foods or beverages. For example, mixing alcohol withsome drugs may cause you to feel tired or slow your reactions. Drug-condition interactions may occurwhen an existing medical condition makes certain drugs potentially harmful. For example, if you have high blood pressure you could experience an unwanted reaction if you take a nasal (OTC) druglabels containinformation about ingre-dients, uses, warningsand directions that isimportant to read andunderstand. The labelalso includes importantinformation about possi-ble drug interactions .

4 Further, drug labels may change asnew information becomes known. That s why it s especiallyimportant to read the label every time you use a drug. The Active Ingredients and Purpose sections list: the name and amount of each active ingredient the purpose of each active ingredientThe Uses section of the label: tells you what the drug is used for helps you find the best drug for your specific symptomsThe Warnings section of the label provides importantdrug interaction and precaution information such as: when to talk to a doctor or pharmacist before use the medical conditions that may make the drug lesseffective or not safe under what circumstances the drug SHOULD not be used when to stop taking the drugThe Directions section of the label tells you: the length of time and the amount of the productthat you may safely use any special instructions on how to use the productThe Other Information section of the label tells you.

5 Required information about certain ingredients,such as sodium content, for people with dietaryrestrictions or allergiesThe Inactive Ingredients section of the label tells you: the name of each inactive ingredient (such as colorings, binders, etc.)The Questions? or Questions or Comments? section of the label (if included): provides telephone numbers of a source to answerquestions about the productDrugInteractionsand Over-the-CounterMedicinesTalk to your doctor orpharmacist about thedrugs you take. Whenyour doctor prescribes anew drug, discuss all OTCand prescription drugs,dietary supplements, vita-mins, botanicals, mineralsand herbals you take, aswell as the foods you your pharmacist for thepackage insert for each prescription drug you package insert provides more information aboutpotential drug taking a drug, ask your doctor or pharmacistthe following questions: Can I take it with other drugs?

6 SHOULD I avoid certain foods, beverages or otherproducts? what are possible drug interaction signs I shouldknow about? How will the drug work in my body? Is there more information available about thedrug or my condition (on the Internet or in healthand medical literature)? know how to take drugs safely and , the drug label will tell you: what the drug is used for how to take the drug how to reduce the risk of drug interactions andunwanted side effectsIf you still have questions after reading the drugproduct label, ask your doctor or pharmacist formore AboutDrugInteractions Remember that different OTC drugs may contain the same active ingredient.

7 If youare taking more than one OTC drug, payattention to the active ingredients used in the products to avoid taking too much of a particularingredient. Under certain circumstances such asif you are pregnant or breast-feeding you shouldtalk to your doctor before you take any , make sure to know what ingredients are contained in the medicines you take to avoid possible allergic following are examples of drug interaction warn-ings that you may see on certain OTC drug examples do notinclude all of the warningsfor the listed types of products and SHOULD not takethe place of reading the actual product H2 ReceptorAntagonists(drugs thatprevent orrelieve heart-burn associ-ated with acidindigestionand sourstomach)

8 Antacids(drugs forrelief of acidindigestion,heartburnand/or sourstomach) Drug Interaction InformationFor products containing cimetidine, ask a doctor orpharmacist before use if you are: taking theophylline (oral asthmadrug), warfarin (blood thinningdrug) or phenytoin (seizure drug)Ask a doctor or pharmacistbefore use if you are: allergic to milk or milk productsif the product contains more than5 grams lactose in a maximumdaily dose taking a prescription drugAsk a doctor before use if you have: kidney diseaseCategoryAntiemetics(drugs for prevention ortreatment of nausea, vomitingor dizziness associated withmotion sickness) Antihistamines(drugs that temporarilyrelieve runnynose or reducesneezing, itchingof the nose orthroat, and itchywatery eyes dueto hay fever orother upper respiratory problems) Drug Interaction InformationAsk a doctor or pharmacistbefore use if you are: taking sedatives or tranquilizers Ask a doctor before use if you have.

9 A breathing problem, such as emphysema or chronic bronchitis glaucoma difficulty in urination due to an enlarged prostate glandWhen using this product: avoid alcoholic beverages Ask a doctor or pharmacistbefore use if you are taking: sedatives or tranquilizers a prescription drug for high bloodpressure or depressionAsk a doctor before use if you have: glaucoma or difficulty in urination due to an enlargedprostate gland breathing problems, such asemphysema, chronic bronchitis orasthmaWhen using this product: alcohol, sedatives and tranquiliz-ers may increase drowsiness avoid alcoholic beveragesCategoryAntitussivesCough Medicine (drugs that temporarily reducecough due to minor throat andbronchial irritationas may occur witha cold) Bronchodilators(drugs for the temporary relief of shortness ofbreath, tightness ofchest and wheezingdue to bronchialasthma) Laxatives(drugs for the temporary relief of constipation) NasalDecongestants (drugs for the temporary relief ofnasal congestiondue to a cold, hayfever or otherupper respiratoryallergies)

10 Drug Interaction InformationAsk a doctor or pharmacistbefore use if you are: taking sedatives or tranquilizersAsk a doctor before use if you have: glaucoma or difficulty in urination due to an enlargedprostate glandAsk a doctor before use if you: have heart disease, high bloodpressure, thyroid disease, diabetes or difficulty in urinationdue to an enlarged prostate gland have ever been hospitalized for asthma or are taking a prescription drug for asthmaAsk a doctor before use if you have: kidney disease and the laxativecontains phosphates, potassium ormagnesium stomach pain, nausea or vomitingAsk a doctor before use if you: have heart disease, high bloodpressure, thyroid disease, diabetes or difficulty in urination due to an enlargedprostate glandCategoryNicotineReplacementProducts (drugs that reduce withdrawal symptoms associated withquitting smoking,including nicotinecraving)Nighttime SleepAids(drugs for relief of occasionalsleeplessness)Drug Interaction InformationAsk a doctor before use if you.