Take care when using OTC medicines

There are more than 100,000 over-the-counter medicines on the market today, and people over 60 use more than one-third of all OTCs purchased.

In an effort to provide consumers with information about the safe use of OTC medicines, the Consumer Health Education Center recently launched a national education campaign.

The center recommends the following simple steps to ensure safe and effective use of medicine.

+Always read and follow the medicine's drug facts label.

+Never take more than one medicine with the same active ingredient unless instructed by a doctor, and choose medicines that treat only the symptoms present.

+Talk to a doctor if taking an overthecounter medicine becomes more than a temporary practice or if symptoms do not go away.

+Create a list of all the medicines taken, and share the list with healthcare professionals.

While almost 80 percent of respondents say they are very likely to follow a recommended dose, some do not pay attention to the active ingredients in their medicines, the center says.