According to the FDA, there are about 100,000 drugs now available over the counter. Deciding which medications are best for your ailment can be tricky. We asked experts to answer five common questions to help you navigate any drugstore aisle with ease.
1. Are store-brand medications always as good as brand names?
Yes, generic and brand-name drugs contain the same amounts of active ingredients and are equally effective. What may differ is price and inactive ingredients, such as dyes or coating, that can make a brand-name medicine look or taste batter. Store-brand medications can cost 0ne-third to one-half as much. Read labels and compare inactive ingredients as well as price, especially if you're allergic to certain dyes or have trouble swallowing pills.
2. How do I decide which painkiller to take: aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuproven or naproxen?
It depends on what type of pain you're treating. All four drugs work well to alleviate headaches, since they block pain receptors in the brain. All of them also act on the brain's heat-regulating center, so they can help reduce fever.
If you're relieving pain due to inflammation, such as from menstrual cramps or a toothache, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen and naproxen are the best choice. NSAIDs interfere with the production of prostaglandins, chemicals that cause inflammation and discomfort.
However, if you have stomach problem such as acid reflux or an ulcer or you're talking blood-thinning medication, avoid NSAIDs and aspirin, because they can irritate the gastrointestinal tract and inhibit blood clotting, which increase your risk of excessive bleeding. Whichever remedy you choose, follow dosage direction. Taking more than is recommended will not increase the drug's effectiveness and can lead to dangerous side effects such as liver poisoning.
3. Are OTC sleep remedies addictive?
No. Sleep ids sold over the counter contain diphenhydramine and doxylamine, which are antihistamines that don't cause physical addiction. However, if you need to use sleep aids for more than three nights in a row, consult your doctor. Chronic insomnia can be a sign of a more serious condition such as depression, anxiety or hypothyroidism that requires separate treatment.
4. I have medications in my bathroom cabinet that are three weeks past their expiration dates. Will they still work?
Chances are that drugs just three weeks past the expiration date are harmless, but they may not be as effective and some, such as tetracyline, can become toxic.
5. What's the difference between gel caps and tablets?
Gel caps are liquid version of the medicine encased in a gelatin coating. Tablets are crushed ingredients combined into a solid form. Both are equally effective, in 15 to 30 minutes, and may provide faster relief. Gel caps may also be a better option for people who have trouble swallowing tablets, because they go down smoothly and have no aftertaste.

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