Drug Interactions

Although mild and relatively uncommon, interactions involving over-the-counter (OTC) drugs can produce unwanted results or make medicines less effective. It's especially important to know about drug interactions if you're taking prescription and OTC drugs at the same time.

Some drugs can also interact with foods and beverages, as well as with health conditions such as diabetes, kidney disease and high blood pressure. Here are a few drug interaction cautions for some common OTC ingredients:

• Avoid alcohol if you are taking antihistamines, cough-cold products with the ingredient dextromethorphan or drugs that treat sleeplessness.
  
  
• Do not use drugs that treat sleeplessness if you are taking prescription sedatives or tranquilizers.
  
  
• Check with your doctor before taking products containing aspirin if you're taking a prescription blood thinner or if you have diabetes or gout. Do not use laxatives when you have stomach pain, nausea or vomiting.
  
  
• Do not use cough-cold or weight-control medicines with the ingredient phenylpropanolamine (PPA) if you're being treated for high blood pressure or depression, if you have heart disease, diabetes or thyroid disease, or if you are taking other medicines containing PPA.
  
  
• Unless directed by a doctor, do not use a nasal decongestant if you are taking a prescription drug for high blood pressure or depression, or if you have heart or thyroid disease, diabetes or prostate problems.
  

This is not a complete list. Read the label !!! Drug labels change as new information becomes available. That's why it's important to read the label each time you take medicine.