This document provides an overview of common over-the-counter (OTC) medications used to treat minor medical conditions. It discusses OTC drugs for headaches, eye issues, ear issues, antacids, diarrhea, nausea, colds, coughs, laxatives, skin issues, hemorrhoids and more. For each category, it lists examples of active ingredients and brand names, and also provides precautions for their use. The goal is to familiarize students with basic OTC medications and proper usage.

1. Lakewood Fire MEDIC ONE
EMD - CE
INTRODUCTION
TO “O.T.C.”
MEDICINE

2. OBJECTIVE
To familiarize the students
with basic OTC medicines
used to treat minor medical
problems.

3. OTC MEDICATIONS
 Drugs that can be brought without a
doctor’s prescription.
 Don’t assume that they are safe.
 Carefully read labels and inserts.
 Be aware of drug interactions.

4. HEADACHE
 Acetylsalicylic Acid
(ASA, Aspirin)
 Acetaminophen
(Tylenol)
 Ibuprofen (Motrin)
 Ergotamine tartrate
and caffeine tablets
(Wigraine)

5. OPHTHALMIC MEDS
 Irrigation Solutions
 Lubricants (Artificial
Tears, Liquid Tears)
 Vasoconstrictors (Visine)
 Ophthalmic Antibiotics

6. OTTIC MEDS
 Domoborro
 Acetic Acid
 Ear Wax Removal (Debrox)

7. ANTACIDS
 Taken to relieve heartburn or
indigestion caused by stomach acid.
 Relatively safe for occasional use, but
may cause problems if taken regularly.
 There are several kinds of antacids.

8. ANTACIDS
 Sodium Bicarbonate (Alka-Seltzer, Bromo
Seltzer) contain baking soda.
 Calcium Carbonate (Tums, Alka-2)
 Aluminum-based (Amphojel)
 Magnesium Compounds (Phillip’s Milk of
Magnesia)
 Aluminum-Magnesium combinations
(Maalox, Di-Gel, Mylanta)

9. ANTACIDS
PRECAUTIONS
 Try to eliminate the cause instead of
taking antacids regularly.
 Antacids may interfere with the
absorption and action of some drugs,
such as digitalis, antibiotics and
anticoagulants.

10. ANTIDIARRHEALS
 Two types: Those that thicken the stool and
those that slow intestinal spasms.
 Thickening Mixtures
(Kaopectate)
(Bismuth Subsalicylate
Pepto-Bismol)

11. ANTIDIARRHEALS
 Antispasmodic Products (Loperamide -
Immodiun A-D and Diphenoxylate
hydrochloride - Lomotil)
 Combinations Donnagel and
Parepectolin)

12. ANTIDIARRHEALS
PRECAUTIONS
 Diarrhea often helps rid the body of
infection.
 Take preparation until the stool
thickens then stop to avoid
constipation.
 Replace body fluids.

13. NAUSEA AND
VOMITING
 Best to determine and treat underlying
cause
 Antihistamine Antiemetics
– Meclazine (Antivert)
– Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
– Promethazine (Phenergan)
– Dimenhydrinate (Dramamine)
– Scopolamine (Transderm -Scop)
– Prochlorperazine (Compazine)

14. COLD REMEDIES
 If you take drugs for a cold
you’ll probably get better in
about a week. If you take
nothing you’ll get better in
about seven days.

15. COLD REMEDIES
 REST AND LIQUIDS
 ANTIBIOTICS WILL NOT HELP
 Medications help relieve the SYMPTOMS

16. COLD REMEDIES
ANTIHISTAMINES
 Dries mucous membranes
 Single Ingredient Antihistamines
– Cholrpheniramine (Chlor-Trimiton)
– Diphenhydramine (Benadrly)
 Combinations (Antihistamine
plus a Decongestant)
– Dristan, Triaminic

17. THE VALUE OF
ANTIHISTAMINE USE IN
THE COMMON COLD IS
UNDER DEBATE

18. COLD REMEDIES
ANTIHISTAMINE
PRECAUTIONS
 Drink extra fluids when taking cold
medicines
 Antihistamines may interact with other
medications such as antidepressants,
sedatives, and tranquilizers.

19. DECONGESTANTS
Sympathomimetic amines
which reduce the flow of
blood to the nasal mucosa
 Sprays and Drops
(phenylephrine, Neo-
Synephrine) (Oxymethazoline
HCL - Afrin, Duration)
 Oral Decongestants
(pseudoephedrine, Sudafed)

20. COLD REMEDIES
DECONGESTANT PRECAUTIONS
 Can interact with other drugs
 If used for too long a time they can cause a
rebound effect
 SIDE EFFECTS
– Tachycardia, Headache, Dizziness
– USE WITH CAUTION IN PATIENTS WITH
SEVERE HYPERTENSION AND ISCHEMIC
HEART DISEASE

21. COUGHING
 Protective Reflex action of the
respiratory system to dislodge and eject
foreign materials and excess mucus
from the respiratory tract.
 Congested Productive Cough
 Congested Nonproductive Cough
 Dry Nonproductive cough
 Antitussive

22. COLD REMEDIES
COUGH PREPARATIONS
 WATER AND FRUIT
 DEMULCENTS
– Honey, Hard Candy, Cough Drops
 CODEINE
– Depresses the cough reflex
– Used for symptomatic relief of dry
nonproductive cough
– Codeine Tablets, Robitussin AC and Codiene
Elixir

23. COLD REMEDIES
COUGH PREPARATIONS
 DEXTROMETHORPHAN
– Nonnarcotic equivalent to Codeine
– Robitussin DM
 GUAIFENESIN
– Expectorant used in both productive and
nonproductive cough
– Robitussin, 2G, GG Tussin

24. COLD REMEDIES
COUGH PREPARATIONS
PRECAUTIONS
 Can cause problems for people with certain
health problems, such as asthma, heart
disease and high blood pressure
 Use with caution in patients with respiratory
problems - Cough suppressants can stifle
breathing
 Some preparations contain large amounts of
alcohol; others contain codeine

25. LAXATIVES
 Two types of products that ease the
passage and elimination of bowel
movements
 Those that speed up the passage of stool by
stimulating the intestines (Correctol, Ex-
Lax, Feen-A-Mint, Biscodyl, Senna Pod)
 Bulking Agents are not laxatives, but ease
constipation by increasing the volume of
the stool and making it easier to pass
(Metamucil)

26. FECAL SOFTENERS
 Agents Used to maintain a soft stool to
minimize work involved in defecation.
 dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate (Colace)
 dioctyl calcium sulfosuccinate (Surfak)
 Mineral Oil
– Absorption of lipid soluble vitamins may be
affected
– Lipid Pneumonia is a possible side effect
– Oil leak

27. BUROW’S
SOLUTION/DOMEBORO
POWDER
 Mild skin irritation from exposure to
soaps, chemicals, diaper rash, acne,
scaly skin, eczema apply PRN
 Skin inflammation, insect bites, poison
ivy, or other contact dermatoses,
swelling, athlete's foot
 Used in wet dressings and soaks

28. ANTIBACTERIALS AND
ANTIFUNGALS
 Alcohol, ethyl and isopropyl
 Carbol-fuchsin solution
– Tinea, fungal skin infections
 Hydrogen peroxide
– Cleansing wounds
 Salicylic acid
– Warts
 Tolnaftate
– Tinea
 Undecylenic acid
– Tinea

29. ANTISEPTICS AND
GERMACIDES
 Hexachlorophene
– pHisoHex, pHisoScrub
 Iodine
 Povidone-iodine

30. ASTRINGENTS
 Calamine
 Witch hazel
 Oatmeal
 Petrolatum
EMOLLIENTS

31. MISCELLANEOUS AGENTS
 Benzyl benzoate
– Treatment of scabies
 Methyl salicylate (Ben-Gay, Icy Hot etc.)
 Selinium sulfide (Selsun, Selsun Blue )
 Para-aminobenzoic acid PABA
 Zinc oxide

32. HEMORRHOIDS
 Anusol
 Dibucaine
 Witch Hazel Pads